Nun self-immolates in Tibet while appealing for return of Dalai Lama

A nun set herself on fire while crying out for the Dalai Lama to return to Tibet in the latest in a series of self-immolations by Tibetans protesting against Beijing's control over the region, overseas rights groups said.

Yeshi Khando walked around Kardze monastery and then set herself alight on Wednesday near the Ganzi county police station in Sichuan, the British-based Free Tibet group, the International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) and US-funded Radio Free Asia (RFA) said.

The 47-year-old nun "called for the return of the Dalai Lama and also for his long life", RFA reported, citing anonymous sources. "She also called for freedom for Tibet."

RFA said that those present did not believe that she survived. Her body was quickly removed by security forces and her family was summoned by the police on Thursday, Free Tibet said.

Police and local officials refused to comment on the incident.

Veteran China watcher Johnny Lau Yui-siu said uncertainty over the Dalai Lama's return had been depressing his followers in Tibet, which was leading to aggressive responses such as immolation.