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| China sets Tibet protest deadline | China sets Tibet protest deadline |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Chinese authorities in Tibet have given rioters until Monday to surrender, state media report, after unrest that officials say has left 10 people dead. | |
| Braced for possible further disorder, officials warned what they called the "plot of the separatists" would fail. | Braced for possible further disorder, officials warned what they called the "plot of the separatists" would fail. |
| They also denied police had opened fire on crowds that torched Chinese-owned shops in Tibet's main city, Lhasa. | They also denied police had opened fire on crowds that torched Chinese-owned shops in Tibet's main city, Lhasa. |
| State media said the dead were mainly business people, "innocent civilians", who had been "burnt to death". | State media said the dead were mainly business people, "innocent civilians", who had been "burnt to death". |
| Tibetan authorities called for rioters to hand themselves in by the deadline and promised leniency to those who surrender, according to China's Xinhua news agency. | Tibetan authorities called for rioters to hand themselves in by the deadline and promised leniency to those who surrender, according to China's Xinhua news agency. |
| James Miles, a British journalist in the city, said rioting continued on Saturday morning, although not on the same scale as Friday. | James Miles, a British journalist in the city, said rioting continued on Saturday morning, although not on the same scale as Friday. |
| Tibetans were looting the few remaining shops which had not been attacked, and throwing rocks at security forces who were responding with occasional volleys of tear gas, he said. | Tibetans were looting the few remaining shops which had not been attacked, and throwing rocks at security forces who were responding with occasional volleys of tear gas, he said. |
| 'Long-simmering resentment' | 'Long-simmering resentment' |
| Lhasa had "reverted to calm" early Saturday, Xinhua reported, following the worst unrest there in nearly 20 years. | Lhasa had "reverted to calm" early Saturday, Xinhua reported, following the worst unrest there in nearly 20 years. |
| It said electricity and telephone services, which were cut for parts of Friday, were also being restored. | It said electricity and telephone services, which were cut for parts of Friday, were also being restored. |
| TIBET DIVIDE China says Tibet always part of its territoryTibet enjoyed long periods of autonomy before 20th century1950: China launched a military assaultOpposition to Chinese rule led to bloody uprising in 1959Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama fled to India Eyewitness: 'Kicked to floor'Analysis: Beijing's dilemmaNepal agrees Everest ban | TIBET DIVIDE China says Tibet always part of its territoryTibet enjoyed long periods of autonomy before 20th century1950: China launched a military assaultOpposition to Chinese rule led to bloody uprising in 1959Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama fled to India Eyewitness: 'Kicked to floor'Analysis: Beijing's dilemmaNepal agrees Everest ban |
| "The plot of the separatists will fail. We will challenge them firmly, according to law," said Tibetan government Chairman Qiangba Puncog, reported AFP news agency. | "The plot of the separatists will fail. We will challenge them firmly, according to law," said Tibetan government Chairman Qiangba Puncog, reported AFP news agency. |
| Police have cordoned off a few central sections of Lhasa and are on the lookout for signs of trouble, state media reported. | Police have cordoned off a few central sections of Lhasa and are on the lookout for signs of trouble, state media reported. |
| Witnesses reported seeing tanks on the street. | Witnesses reported seeing tanks on the street. |
| A regional government official told Xinhua: "The victims [of Friday's violence] are all innocent civilians, and they have been burnt to death." | A regional government official told Xinhua: "The victims [of Friday's violence] are all innocent civilians, and they have been burnt to death." |
| They included two hotel employees and two shop owners, according to the news agency. | They included two hotel employees and two shop owners, according to the news agency. |
| A Tibetan in Lhasa told Reuters: "If there is blood today [Saturday] it will be ours." | A Tibetan in Lhasa told Reuters: "If there is blood today [Saturday] it will be ours." |
| Western countries have expressed concern at the clashes, and the Americans called on the Chinese to act with restraint. | Western countries have expressed concern at the clashes, and the Americans called on the Chinese to act with restraint. |
| The violence erupted on the fifth day of largely peaceful protests that began on Monday's anniversary of a 1959 uprising against Chinese rule. | The violence erupted on the fifth day of largely peaceful protests that began on Monday's anniversary of a 1959 uprising against Chinese rule. |
| Fires broke out near the famous Jokhang temple, one of the most sacred sites for Tibetan Buddhists, and Xinhua reported that shops, banks and hotels were destroyed. | Fires broke out near the famous Jokhang temple, one of the most sacred sites for Tibetan Buddhists, and Xinhua reported that shops, banks and hotels were destroyed. |
| 'Masterminded' | 'Masterminded' |
| News agency pictures showed young men setting fire to a Chinese flag and throwing rocks, while state media said police had fired tear gas to disperse protesters. | News agency pictures showed young men setting fire to a Chinese flag and throwing rocks, while state media said police had fired tear gas to disperse protesters. |
| One eyewitness reported seeing people being carried away on stretchers. | One eyewitness reported seeing people being carried away on stretchers. |
| The demonstrations - like last those September in Burma - were initially led by Buddhist monks and then attracted crowds of ordinary people. | The demonstrations - like last those September in Burma - were initially led by Buddhist monks and then attracted crowds of ordinary people. |
| From exile in India, the Dalai Lama called for an end to the violence and urged China to "address the long-simmering resentment of the Tibetan people through dialogue". | From exile in India, the Dalai Lama called for an end to the violence and urged China to "address the long-simmering resentment of the Tibetan people through dialogue". |
| The authorities are braced to crack down on any repeat of Friday's scenes | The authorities are braced to crack down on any repeat of Friday's scenes |
| Xinhua cited the Tibet government as alleging the riots had been "organised, premeditated and masterminded by the Dalai clique", which the spiritual leader denied. | Xinhua cited the Tibet government as alleging the riots had been "organised, premeditated and masterminded by the Dalai clique", which the spiritual leader denied. |
| Hollywood star Richard Gere - a Tibet activist - told the BBC he would support a boycott of the Beijing Olympics unless China granted basic freedoms to Tibetans. | Hollywood star Richard Gere - a Tibet activist - told the BBC he would support a boycott of the Beijing Olympics unless China granted basic freedoms to Tibetans. |
| BBC China editor Shirong Chen in Beijing says the Chinese government certainly does not want bloodshed five months before staging the Games. | BBC China editor Shirong Chen in Beijing says the Chinese government certainly does not want bloodshed five months before staging the Games. |
| On the other hand, it cannot allow the monks and other Tibetans to vent their anger in case this is seen as a sign of weakness, he says. | On the other hand, it cannot allow the monks and other Tibetans to vent their anger in case this is seen as a sign of weakness, he says. |
| Many Tibetans claim their culture has been diluted or even destroyed by Beijing and they resent the local presence of Han Chinese, China's biggest ethnic group. | Many Tibetans claim their culture has been diluted or even destroyed by Beijing and they resent the local presence of Han Chinese, China's biggest ethnic group. |
| China says Tibet has always been part of its territory - although Tibet enjoyed long periods of autonomy before the 20th Century. Many Tibetans remain loyal to the Dalai Lama, who fled in 1959. | China says Tibet has always been part of its territory - although Tibet enjoyed long periods of autonomy before the 20th Century. Many Tibetans remain loyal to the Dalai Lama, who fled in 1959. |
| Are you in Tibet or do you know anyone currently in Tibet? Did you witness the rallies this week? Send us your comments. | Are you in Tibet or do you know anyone currently in Tibet? Did you witness the rallies this week? Send us your comments. |