Everest forbidden

The closure of Everest`s northeast ridge came after China told tourist agencies in Tibet to cancel all tours until April and stopped issuing entrance permits for Tibet to foreigners.

Tensions in Tibet are running high ahead of the anniversary of the Dalai Lama`s flight into exile on March 10. Many Tibetans have chosen not to celebrate Tibetan New Year, or Losar, today (weds) to silently protest Chinese rule.

China`s move to close off Tibet will ensure a news black-out in case of any repeat of the violence that broke out last March. Large squads of riot police have already been spotted by reporters in Tibetan areas of the surrounding provinces.

The Dalai Lama told Tibetan exiles that China`s "strike-hard" campaign is now fully in force in Tibet. "There is a heavy presence of armed security and military forces all over Tibet," he said yesterday (tues).

"In particular, special restrictions have been imposed in the monasteries and restrictions have been imposed on the visit of foreign tourists," he added.

The Tibetan side of Everest, or Mount Chomolungma in Tibetan, is less travelled by climbers, who prefer the south eastern route through Nepal that was taken by Sir Edmund Hillary.

The Tibetan route to the summit involves some treacherous traverses across steep glaciers before climbing the "Chinese Ladder", a metal ladder left behind by a group of Chinese climbers in 1975 which has been used continuously ever since.