China abandons plans to re-open Tibet

April 29, 2008 - 10:43AM

China has abandoned plans to reopen riot-hit Tibet to visitors on May 1 amid reports of simmering tension there.

The US-based International Campaign for Tibet first reported the postponement last week, saying the reversal was due to lingering unrest and that Tibet might not be reopened until after the August 8-24 Beijing Olympics.

Chinese authorities began clearing Tibet of foreign tourists after riots erupted in the region's capital, Lhasa, on March 14 amid protests by Tibetans against China's 57-year rule of the remote region.

Chinese authorities announced on April 3 that the region would be reopened to foreign and domestic tourists on May 1, a national holiday in China.

owever, the government appeared to begin backtracking last week amid continuing reports of tension in the region.