Hundreds protest China's rule in Tibet, demand UN action

Hundreds of Tibetans and their supporters gathered in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York to protest the Chinese rule in their homeland and demanded intervention of the world body to address their grievances.

The Tibetans were participating in a global 'Solidarity Rally for Tibet' initiated by the Tibetan Parliament in Exile on Monday, coinciding with the World Human Rights Day, which was also declared as the Tibet Solidarity Day.

The rally sought to express solidarity with the Tibetans and called on the Chinese government and the UN to resolve Tibetan issue.

The Tibetans gathered outside the Chinese Consulate where they observed a minute of silence in honour of the more than 90 Tibetans who had set themselves on fire in protest of the Chinese rule.

The demonstrators carried pictures of Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama as well as of those who have sacrificed their lives for the Tibetan cause.

Two North American members of the Tibetan Parliament in Exile Tashi Namgyal and Norbu Tsering condemned China's actions in Tibet, including the increased clampdown on civilians.

They said more than 350,000 signatures have been collected for the petition to the United Nations.

Senior Tibetan leaders also met Deputy Head of the Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights Maarit Kohonen Sheriff and Human Rights Officer Ann Syuata in the UN building to deliver copies of the signed petitions.

They spoke of the urgent need to take action in view of the deteriorating situation in Tibet.