Chinese police fired tear gas in an attempt to disperse more than 600 monks who were taking part in a second day street protest in Tibet, Radio Free Asia reported on Wednesday.

The demonstration was part of the worldwide series of protests to mark the 49^th anniversary of the failed uprising of Dalai Lama against Chinese rule. Other similar protests have taken place in San Francisco and Olympia, Greece.

"There were probably a couple of thousand armed police ... wearing different uniforms. Police fired tear gas into the crowd," an unidentified witness of the event the radio station’s Tibetan service.

The protest was demanding the release of 11 monks who were detained on Monday, after participating in a protest in front of the Jokhang Temple, the holiest place in Tibetan religion. The demonstrators shouted "We want an independent Tibet" and "Free our people or we won't go back."

Champa Phuntsok, Tibet’s regional government head, explained that the detained monks will be freed after they were questioned and counseled, the Associated Press reports.

Meanwhile, several hundreds of Tibetan exiles defied the ban ordered by police and continued their march to Tibet from the town of Dharamsala, in Northern India. Tenzin Tsundue, one of the march leaders and a veteran Tibetan activist, said the protesters were not intimidated by the police and they will continue marching, overcoming all obstacles in their way and fighting for their rights. The march was against the Chinese occupation in Tibet and against Beijing Olympics.

Upset with the latest pro-Tibet manifestations, Chinese authorities have decided to forbid expeditions on the north face of Mount Everest until after the Olympic torch is carried up to its peak in May. The measure was taken as Chinese officials fear that some international pro-Tibet activists will try to initiate demonstrations on the arrival of the Olympic torch on Everest.