Beijing (PTI): A select group of foreign diplomats escorted by China to riot-torn Lhasa on Saturday complained of being restrained from talking with locals as the US and EU pressured Beijing to open dialogue with the Dalai Lama and respect the rights of Tibetan minorities.

"The delegation was not permitted to move about independently in Lhasa and was unable to hold unsupervised conversations with local residents," the US embassy said here after the hurriedly-organised two-day trip that included envoys from 15 countries.

No Indian diplomat was in the entourage.

In the tightly scheduled trip two weeks after Lhasa convulsed in the most vicious anti-government protests in two decades, the diplomats attended government meetings, toured the riot-scarred areas and two hospitals and held discussions with individuals.

The diplomats also reportedly visited the Jokhang Temple where daring monks had disrupted a government-managed foreign media tour on Wednesday to air grievances against China. Beijing assured visiting diplomats it would not punish the monks who embarrassed it.

The US embassy said its diplomat raised with the Chinese government the issue of free access to Tibet and other areas affected by the unrest for international and domestic journalists, as well as for diplomats.

"The officer also urged China to exercise restraint, to engage in dialogue, and to respect the fundamental right of all citizens to peacefully express their religious and political views," the embassy said in a statement.