Tibetan monks arrested

Nine Tibetan Buddhists monks were arrested by the Chinese government. They were accused of creating a homemade bomb that exploded in an Eastern Tibet government building on March 23rd. The incident was not reported at the time of the alleged bombing.

The Chinese media reported that the monks confessed to planting the explosive in Gyanbe township. Chinese officials believe that the bombing was part of a protest led by the Dalai Lama to sabotage the olympics.

Chinese President Hu Jintao said the problems in Tibet were a purely internal affair directly threatening Chinese sovereignty.

The Dalai Lama has denied involvement in violent acts and says he only wants greater autonomy for the remote mountain region. He has also expressed opposition to a boycott of the Olympic Games.