AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

KATHMANDU, Jan 18: Ten Tibetans arrested for illegally entering into Nepal
have been handed over to the United Nations, immigration authorities said
Monday.

The eight men and two women were arrested on Saturday after crossing the
border into Nepal, where immigration authorities said they were questioned
about possible involvement in ´anti-China activities´.

"We took statements from each of the Tibetans, who said they crossed the
border to go to India to meet their spiritual leader the Dalai Lama," said
immigration official Chandra Nath Gautam. "We found no proof of any
involvement in anti-China activities in Nepal and we have decided to hand
over all the arrested Tibetans to the United Nations."