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China sets Tibet protest deadline | China sets Tibet protest deadline |
(30 minutes later) | |
The authorities in Tibet have given anti-Chinese protesters until Monday to surrender, following unrest that officials say left 10 people dead. | |
"The plot of the separatists will fail," the head of Tibet's government warned as sporadic clashes continued in the main city, Lhasa. | |
Police used tear gas to disperse groups of protesters in the city centre. | Police used tear gas to disperse groups of protesters in the city centre. |
State media said those killed in earlier unrest were mainly business people who had been "burnt to death". | State media said those killed in earlier unrest were mainly business people who had been "burnt to death". |
James Miles, a British journalist in the city, said the rioting on Saturday morning was not on the same scale as Friday. | James Miles, a British journalist in the city, said the rioting on Saturday morning was not on the same scale as Friday. |
Tibetans were looting the few remaining shops which had not been attacked, and throwing rocks. | Tibetans were looting the few remaining shops which had not been attacked, and throwing rocks. |
Security forces responded with occasional volleys of tear gas, but not a full scale assault, the journalist said. | Security forces responded with occasional volleys of tear gas, but not a full scale assault, the journalist said. |
'Long-simmering resentment' | 'Long-simmering resentment' |
In a statement quoted by the state-run news agency Xinhua, the Tibetan government urged "the lawbreakers to give themselves in by Monday midnight" and promised that "leniency would be given to those who surrender". | |
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 href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7297248.stm">Witnesses describe clashes class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7297249.stm">Analysis: Beijing's dilemmaNepal agrees Everest ban | |
Tibetan government Chairman Qiangba Puncog denounced the "plot of the separatists". | Tibetan government Chairman Qiangba Puncog denounced the "plot of the separatists". |
"We will challenge them firmly, according to law," AFP news agency quoted him as saying. | "We will challenge them firmly, according to law," AFP news agency quoted him as saying. |
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. | 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. |
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. |
It said electricity and telephone services, which were cut for much of Friday in Lhasa, were being restored. | |
A Tibetan in Lhasa told Reuters on Saturday: "If there is blood today it will be ours." | A Tibetan in Lhasa told Reuters on Saturday: "If there is blood today it will be ours." |
Western countries have expressed concern at the clashes, and US officials called on the Chinese to act with restraint. | |
The violence - the worst in Tibet since 1989 - 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 aired on Saturday 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 |
Chinese officials quoted by Xinhua alleged that the riots had been "organised, premeditated and masterminded by the Dalai clique" - which the spiritual leader denied. | Chinese officials quoted by Xinhua alleged that the riots had been "organised, premeditated and masterminded by the Dalai clique" - which the spiritual leader denied. |
Hollywood star Richard Gere - a strong supporter of the Tibetan cause - told the BBC he would support a boycott of the Beijing Olympics unless China granted basic freedoms to the territory. | Hollywood star Richard Gere - a strong supporter of the Tibetan cause - told the BBC he would support a boycott of the Beijing Olympics unless China granted basic freedoms to the territory. |
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. |