Blasts ahead of Tibet anniversary

Ethnic Tibetan regions of China are under heavy security

Two home-made bombs have exploded in a Tibetan region in the west of the country, Chinese state media says.

Two vehicles - one of them a police car - were damaged in the blasts, but there were no reports of any injuries.

The explosions are reported to have occurred after clashes between police and local people in Qinghai Province.

Security has been tightened in Tibetan areas of China on the eve of the 50th anniversary of a failed uprising by Tibetans against Chinese rule.

Last year, protests in Lhasa to mark the anniversary led to deadly anti-Chinese riots that spread across Tibetan regions - the worst unrest there for 20 years.

'Expected sabotage'

A police car and a fire engine were hit by "minor explosions" about 0200 local time on Monday, according to authorities quoted by the Xinhua news agency.

It followed a dispute at a timber yard between the authorities and dozens of local residents angered after police stopped a timber lorry for a security check, state media reported.

TIBET DIVIDE China says Tibet was always part of its territory Tibet enjoyed long periods of autonomy before the 20th Century 1950: China launched a military assault Opposition to Chinese rule led to a bloody uprising which began on 10 March 1959 Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, fled days later and crossed into India on 31 March 1959

The protest took place in Golog - a Tibetan autonomous prefecture, where the majority of the population is Tibetan.

China does not allow foreign journalists unrestricted access to Tibet or restive areas surrounding it, making it extremely difficult to verify reports from the region.

Thousands of troops and paramilitary police are said to have been deployed in Tibetan-populated regions amid fears of fresh violence during the sensitive anniversary period.

Beijing says it has tightened its border controls in those areas ahead of "expected sabotage activities by the Dalai Lama clique".

"We will firmly crackdown on criminal activities in Tibet's border area that pose a threat to China's sovereignty and government," Fu Hongyu told the annual session of the National People's Congress, China's legislative body.

Foreign tourists have also been barred from travelling to Tibet during the month of March, according to travel agencies.