Police in Nepal arrested more than 500 Tibetan protesters, nearly all of them women, on Sunday before what was to be the first all-female rally against China's actions in Tibet.
A senior police officer said the protesters were arrested for carrying the Tibetan flag and wearing head bands that read "Free Tibet."
Activists said the protesters were arrested from around the royal palace in Kathmandu while they were gathering for a peaceful rally.
The protesters were expected to be released in the evening. In general, protesters arrested in Nepal in recent weeks have been released that evening.
Nepal strictly controls any anti-China activities on its soil and maintains that Tibet is part of China.
"Of the 559 arrested, 535 were women and 24 were men, and included monks and nuns," officer Sarbendra Khanal said.