Kathmandu - Nepalese police arrested nearly 300 Tibetan exiles Sunday during an anti-China demonstration in the capital Kathmandu.

The protestors were rounded up near the Chinese embassy's consular section, which has become the focus of anti-China demonstrations by exiled Tibetans.

"About 300 Tibetan protestors were detained after they tried to breach the police lines," the Kathmandu district police office said. The protestors, including elderly women and monks, wore headbands and T-shirts calling for a "Free Tibet" and chanted anti-Chinese slogans.

The protestors were quickly bundled into waiting police vans and trucks and driven off to detention centres.

Police said most detainees were expected to be freed by Sunday night.

The demonstration was the latest in a series of anti-China protests by Tibetan exiles since March 10.

The Nepalese government has come under increasing criticism from international human-rights agencies for its handling of the protests.

Last week, the US based Human Rights Watch said the Nepalese government was cracking down on Tibetan protestors because of pressure from the Chinese government.

The rights group also said more than 8,000 Tibetans had been arrested by Nepalese police since the protests began nearly five months ago.

The charge has been denied by the Nepalese government, but it says it will not allow anti-China protests in the country because it would affect its relations with its northern neighbour.

Nepal also says it recognizes Tibet as an integral part of China. Nearly 20,000 Tibetans refugees live in Nepal. (dpa)