Published by: World Tibet Network News Saturday, December 13, 1997

NEW DELHI, Dec 10 (AFP) - Some 50 young Tibetans on Wednesday staged a noisy demonstration near the Chinese embassy here to demand independence for their homeland, witnesses said.

The slogan-chanting youths approached the embassy gates after arriving in the secluded diplomatic area by bus, but were pushed back by the police.

The demonstration was organised by the Tibetan Youth Congress.

"We want independence" and "Long live the Dalai Lama," the protesters shouted. As the Tibetans tried to near the heavily-guarded embassy, scuffles broke out with police.

A police officer said that no arrests were made.

"We pushed them back into their bus and told them to get away," the officer said. "The Tibetans said they planned to give a memorandum to Indian authorities."

India is home to the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader who fled his homeland in 1959 following a failed anti-China uprising, as well as some 100,000 Tibetan exiles.

The Dalai Lama's government-in-exile, not recognised by any country, is based in the northern Indian hill town of Dharamsala.