Fires have broken out in

Fires have broken out in Tibet's capital city of Lhasa, as protests, which began earlier this week to commemorate the 49th anniversary of Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule, have escalated. Shops and police cars were set afire after hundreds of civilians and monks united in protest. Following the sealing off of Lhasa's three largest monasteries, tensions increased, and formerly peaceful protest demonstrations have turned violent. The demonstrations are the largest Tibet has seen in nearly 20 years. [BBC]