China's top political advisor has accused followers of the Dalai Lama of plotting to create “turmoil” in the country's Tibetan-inhabited areas as the anniversary of deadly 2008 riots approaches, AFP reported.

Mr Jia Qinglin, who is ranked number four in the Communist Party leadership, made the comments at a meeting on Thursday, March 1 attended by the police minister and officials from Tibet and four Tibetan-inhabited provinces.

His comments came as leading Tibetan poet Woeser - who like many Tibetans only goes by one name - said she had been placed under a form of house arrest in Beijing and prevented from accepting an award.

“Currently the Dalai clique is plotting to create disturbances in Tibet and in Tibetan-inhabited areas in four provinces,” said Mr Jia, referring to followers of the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

Beijing has blamed the Dalai Lama, who fled to India in March 1959, for recent unrest in Tibet and nearby areas, including a series of self-immolations by Buddhist monks and nuns.