(dpa) - Tibetans showing solidarity with protesters in their homeland Saturday stormed the Chinese consulate in Sydney.
There were seven arrests as demonstrators clashed with police after scaling the three-metre wall that surrounds the diplomatic compound.
The 50 protesters outnumbered police, who used batons and capsicum spray to try and keep them at bay.
Australia Tibet Council spokeswoman Zoe Bedford said the impromptu protest was organised by word-of-mouth after deaths in Lhasa that she said may number in the hundreds.
Australia urged China to act with restraint and allow for peaceful protests in Tibet.
"We call on Chinese authorities to act with restraint and to deal with protesters peacefully," Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said in a statement. "We urge the Chinese government to allow peaceful expression of dissent."