Nepalese officials say the body of a Tibetan man who set himself on fire to protest China's rule over Tibet can only be released to the man's family. Members of the Tibetan community have been asking authorities to hand over the body for a proper funeral.

The body of 25-year-old Drupchen Tsering has been at a Katmandu hospital he self-immolated on Feb. 13.

Police official Pradumna Kakri said Thursday that it was required by law for relatives to come forward to claim the body.

Tsering's family cannot claim the body because he only came to Nepal a few weeks before his death.

Tibetans have written letters to officials including Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai asking for an exception to the law.