Group says 2 lay Tibetans set themselves on fire

BEIJING – An overseas activist group says two lay Tibetans have set themselves on fire in front of a monastery in eastern Tibet.

London-based Free Tibet says Sonam and Choephak Kyap self-immolated together Thursday in front of Jonang Dzamthang monastery in Dzamthang county. The two, who are in their 20s, were taken away by local residents and appeared to be critically injured.

Thirty-two people have set themselves on fire in Tibetan areas over the past year to draw attention to China's restrictions on Buddhism and to call for the return from exile of their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama.

Chinese authorities have confirmed some of the self-immolations but not all.

Beijing has accused the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama of inciting the self-immolations.