China allows foreign reporters into Tibet on strictly controlled tour

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The helmeted police with batons who check identification papers in the old quarter of the Tibetan capital show a city under lockdown despite the Chinese government's claims that life there is returning to normal. The first group of foreign journalists to visit Tibet since deadly rioting earlier this month were watched by officials from three levels of government during their visit Wednesday to Lhasa, which comes amid rising international pressure over the government's crackdown less than five months ahead of the Beijing Olympics. Officials told the journalists they planned Thursday to show them more areas of Lhasa hit by the violence and to allow them to meet some of the victims.