Violent protests in the Tibetan capital Lhasa against Chinese rule have left at least 100 people dead, CNN reported citing unofficial sources.

According to state-owned Chinese media 10 people were killed during the clashes between Tibetans and the police.

The protests in Tibet began Monday when hundreds of monks rallied on the 49th anniversary of a failed uprising against Beijing that forced the Dalai Lama into exile.

Police used gunfire and tear gas to quell the Lhasa protest, according to witnesses, human rights groups and Chinese media.

Tibet used to have varying degrees of autonomy from China until 1949 when the Chinese Communist Party came to power and deployed troops there to annex the region in 1951.