Beijing  - Tibetans in China have staged several small protests in support of the exiled Dalai Lama in the last few days, including at least one on Saturday's anniversary of rioting last year, Tibetan exile groups reported on Sunday.

Police detained three young Tibetan men in Kardze (Ganzi) prefecture, in China's south-western province of Sichuan, after they shouted slogans including "long live the Dalai Lama" and "independence for Tibet" on Saturday, the Tibetan website Phayul. com quoted the Voice of Tibet radio station as saying.

Taipei  - The Dalai Lama's envoy to Taiwan Thursday blasted China's claim that the Dalai Lama's reincarnation must be endorsed by Beijing, saying it should be endorsed by the Tibetan people.

Dawa Tsering, head of the Dalai Lama's representative office in Taipei, made the response after Qiangba Puncog, chairman of the Tibetan regional government, said the Beijing government must endorse the Dalai Lama's reincarnation and would not recognize any reincarnation chosen by the Tibetan government-in-exile or pro-Dalai Lama monasteries.

New York, Mar 12 : The revered 73-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, is China's best hope for resolving its dispute with Tibetans, an editorial in the New York Times claims.

Though the Dalai Lama has so far managed to deflect demands for independence, Tibetans are increasingly getting frustrated, and according to the article, when the Dalai Lama dies, Beijing will lose its best interlocutor.

Dharamshala, Mar. 10 : Hundreds of Tibetans, including monks, nuns and officials of the Tibetan Government-in-exile, gathered at the main Tsuglagkhang Buddhist temple in Dharamshala to offer prayers for the long life of their spiritual leader Dalai Lama on Monday.

This congregation of Tibetans assembled just a day prior to the 50th anniversary of Chinese occupation of their homeland.

New Delhi, Mar. 10 : Tibet''s spiritual leader, The Dalai Lama, has warned that Tibetans are close to extinction, thanks to the oppressive and authoritarian approach of the Chinese.

Speaking ahead of the 50th anniversary of his flight from Lhasa to exile in India, a defiant Dalai Lama praised the sacrifices of those killed during last year''s uprising.

The Dalai Lama''s speech came as China reiterated its determination to stop a repeat of last year''s violence in Tibet.

New Delhi  - Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, advocated autonomy for Tibet and asserted in a speech delivered Tuesday to mark the 50th anniversary of the failed uprising against Chinese rule that the cause will prevail.

"We need to look to the future and work for our mutual benefit. We Tibetans are looking for a legitimate and meaningful autonomy, an arrangement that would enable Tibetans to live within the framework of the People's Republic of China," he said in India's northern hill town of Dharamsala.