At least nine Tibetans have sustained serious gunshot wounds and are believed to be in a critical condition after Chinese security forces opened fire on a crowd which had gathered to mark the 78th birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, holding prayers in Tawu region, eastern Tibet. Tashi Sonam, a Tibetan monk, was shot in the head and is hospitalised in Dartsedo county along with the other injured people.