A rights group says two Tibetan teenagers have died after setting themselves on fire outside a monastery in southwestern China.
The London-based Free Tibet said a 18-year-old monk and a 17-year-old former monk set themselves on fire on August 27 outside the Kirti Monastery in Sichuan Province.
They died after they were taken to a hospital by Chinese authorities.
Free Tibet said the incidents pushed the number of confirmed self-immolations to 51 since 2009.
At least half of them are believed to have died.
Supporters say the self-immolators are protesting Beijing's heavy-handed rule in Tibetan regions and are calling for the return of their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.
China branded the self-immolators criminals and blames the exiled Dalai Lama for inciting them.
The London-based Free Tibet said a 18-year-old monk and a 17-year-old former monk set themselves on fire on August 27 outside the Kirti Monastery in Sichuan Province.
They died after they were taken to a hospital by Chinese authorities.
Free Tibet said the incidents pushed the number of confirmed self-immolations to 51 since 2009.
At least half of them are believed to have died.
Supporters say the self-immolators are protesting Beijing's heavy-handed rule in Tibetan regions and are calling for the return of their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.
China branded the self-immolators criminals and blames the exiled Dalai Lama for inciting them.
