The Chinese authorities in Tibet have told forty-nine monks over the age of sixty to retire in an apparent attempt to limit the numbers at their monastery.

Supporters of the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader have criticised the move as an attempt to undermine the influence of Tibetan Buddhism, as senior monks play a crucial role in the transmission of religious teachings and rarely retire.

They say the move is part of the Chinese government's efforts to reduce the population of Tibetan monasteries and purge monks and nuns who refuse to renounce the Dalai Lama.

China has frequently accused the Dalai Lama of using religion as a political tool to secure independence for Tibet, which was occupied by China nearly fifty years ago.