Dharamsala, July 10 (ANI): Scores of Tibetans including Buddhist monks and nuns held a candlelight procession here, and asked China to exercise restraint in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang province, which is in the throes of ethnic violence.

The clashes have claimed 156 lives and left thousands injured.

Over 1,400 persons have been arrested since July 5.

"We are appealing to international organizations as well as independent nations to press, influence Chinese government to restrain the force and let the world meet...to find out the real information in east Turkmenistan," said Yangdom, a member of Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC).

Some foreigners, who sympathize with the Tibetan cause, joined the demonstration to express their solidarity. "Somebody told me that this is... against Chinese occupation and all kind of violence that is provided by its government and I felt that I want to also join them," said Ewa, a Polish visitor.

Beijing fears that demonstrations and rioting could break out in other parts of the vast region, especially in areas heavily populated by minority Muslim Uighurs.

Urumqi has a very large population of Han Chinese. By Akhilesh Bharti (ANI)