Indian-based officials said the figure was confirmed by several sources, even though China put the death toll at 10.

The Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, told the BBC he feared there would be more deaths unless Beijing changes its policies towards Tibet.

Chinese troops Troops 'seal Tibet monasteries' ...
India to hold Tibetans two weeks ...
Tibet railway firm seeks listing ... were out in force in Lhasa, Tibet's main city, on Sunday.

Hong Kong Cable TV reported that about 200 military vehicles, each carrying 40 to 60 armed soldiers, drove into Lhasa on Sunday.

Loudspeakers broadcast messages, such as: "Discern between enemies and friends, maintain order."

The BBC has learned that troops in neighbouring Chengdu province have been recalled from leave and put on standby.

A 23-year-old Canadian student in Lhasa told AP: "The entire city is basically closed down."

The Chinese crackdown followed rioting on Friday, that erupted after a week of mainly peaceful protests.

The Chinese official news agency Xinhua says 10 people died on Friday, including business people it said were "burnt to death".

But the Tibetan government in exile later said at least 80 corpses had been counted, including those of 26 people killed on Saturday next to the Dratchi prison in Lhasa.

(BBC)

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