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Tibet unrest spreads beyond Lhasa Tibet unrest spreads beyond Lhasa
(about 9 hours later)
Tibetan protests against Chinese rule have spread to another part of China, after days of demonstrations and violence in Tibet's main city, Lhasa. Protests in Tibet over Beijing's rule have spread to neighbouring parts of China, after days of demonstrations and violence in Tibet's main city, Lhasa.
Clashes between Tibetan protesters and police in Aba, Sichuan province, saw a police station and cars attacked.Clashes between Tibetan protesters and police in Aba, Sichuan province, saw a police station and cars attacked.
Rights groups said several people had been killed in the clashes, though this could not be verified. Rights groups said several people had been killed in the clashes. Protests were also reported in Gansu province.
The violence came after exiled Tibetan leaders said a Chinese crackdown had killed at least 80 people in Lhasa. The unrest came after exiled Tibetan leaders said a Chinese crackdown had killed at least 80 people in Lhasa.
Indian-based officials said the figure was confirmed by several sources, even though China had put the death toll during Friday's riots at 10.Indian-based officials said the figure was confirmed by several sources, even though China had put the death toll during Friday's riots at 10.
'Rule of terror'
The Dalai Lama has called for an international inquiry into China's crackdown, accusing it of a "rule of terror" and "cultural genocide".The Dalai Lama has called for an international inquiry into China's crackdown, accusing it of a "rule of terror" and "cultural genocide".
Sichuan protest class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7299642.stm">Eyewitness: Lhasa 'in cinders'
The clashes in Aba, known as Ngawa in Tibetan, happened around 1200 local time on Sunday, according to Kate Saunders of the International Campaign for Tibet.The clashes in Aba, known as Ngawa in Tibetan, happened around 1200 local time on Sunday, according to Kate Saunders of the International Campaign for Tibet.
Eyewitness: Lhasa 'in cinders' "The lay people and monks seem to have joined together in a protest... which was focussed around the police presence in the town," she told the BBC.
She said that more than 1,000 monks had been on the streets of the town, which is home to a large monastery.
"According to reliable reports the police opened fire," said Ms Saunders, who is in London but said she had indirect phone and web access to eyewitness accounts. "We know there have been deaths.""According to reliable reports the police opened fire," said Ms Saunders, who is in London but said she had indirect phone and web access to eyewitness accounts. "We know there have been deaths."
She said that more than 1,000 monks had been on the streets of the town, which is home to a large monastery.
Accounts of how many people died differ, but she said the most reliable eyewitness source put the toll at seven.Accounts of how many people died differ, but she said the most reliable eyewitness source put the toll at seven.
Reuters news agency cited an unnamed police officer in Aba saying that Tibetans had thrown petrol bombs, burned a police station, and torched vehicles during the clashes.Reuters news agency cited an unnamed police officer in Aba saying that Tibetans had thrown petrol bombs, burned a police station, and torched vehicles during the clashes.
The incident followed protests on Friday and Saturday in a Tibetan area of the neighbouring province of Gansu, when monks and demonstrators confronted police in Xiahe.
CrackdownCrackdown
In Lhasa, where rioting erupted on Friday after days of mainly peaceful protests, Chinese troops were out in force.
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 Q&A: China and TibetIn pictures: Lhasa tense
Hong Kong Cable TV reported that about 200 military vehicles, each carrying 40 to 60 armed soldiers, had driven into the city.
Loudspeakers broadcast messages, such as: "Discern between enemies and friends, maintain order."
China tightly restricts Western journalists' access to Tibet and it is sometimes extremely difficult to verify what is going on.
The BBC has learned that troops in Sichuan province have been recalled from leave and put on standby.The BBC has learned that troops in Sichuan province have been recalled from leave and put on standby.
Death toll dispute 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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7299221.stm">Q&A: China and Tibet class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7299546.stm">In pictures: Lhasa tense In China's north-western Gansu province, at Machu town, hundreds of protesters marched on government buildings and set fire to Chinese businesses, Reuters reported, quoting the Free Tibet Campaign.
The Chinese official news agency Xinhua says 10 people died on Friday, including business people it said were "burnt to death". An account emailed to the BBC from a witness in the town said about 1,500 people - monks and lay people - shouting "Free Tibet" and "Long Live" the Dalai Lama were tear-gassed by security forces.
But the Tibetan government in exile later said at least 80 corpses had been counted, including those of 26 people killed on Saturday next to the Dratchi prison in Lhasa. In the Gansu capital Lanzhou, more than 100 Tibetan students staged a sit-down protest on a university's playing field, according to the activist group Free Tibet.
The demonstrators, who on Friday set fire to Chinese-owned shops and hurled rocks at local police, have been penned into an area of the old town by government forces. Elsewhere in Gansu, at Xiahe, security forces extended their clampdown on Sunday after confrontations there between hundreds of monks and police over the weekend.
Olympic torch
In Lhasa, where demonstrators set fire to Chinese-owned shops and hurled rocks at local police on Friday after days of mainly peaceful protests, Chinese troops were out in force.
The authorities in Tibet have urged the protesters to hand themselves in by Monday morning.
Dalai Lama's concernsProfile: Dalai LamaDalai Lama's concernsProfile: Dalai Lama
The authorities in Tibet have urged the protesters to hand themselves in by Monday morning, promising leniency to those who surrender.
In an interview with the BBC, Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said he feared there would be more deaths unless Beijing changed its policies towards Tibet.In an interview with the BBC, Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said he feared there would be more deaths unless Beijing changed its policies towards Tibet.
"It has become really very, very tense. Now today and yesterday, the Tibetan side is determined. The Chinese side also equally determined. So that means, the result: killing, more suffering," he said."It has become really very, very tense. Now today and yesterday, the Tibetan side is determined. The Chinese side also equally determined. So that means, the result: killing, more suffering," he said.
China says Tibet has always been part of its territory, though Tibet enjoyed long periods of autonomy before the 20th Century and many Tibetans remain loyal to the Dalai Lama, who fled in 1959.China says Tibet has always been part of its territory, though Tibet enjoyed long periods of autonomy before the 20th Century and many Tibetans remain loyal to the Dalai Lama, who fled in 1959.
The unrest erupted a fortnight before China's Olympic celebrations kick off with the start of the torch relay, which is scheduled to pass through Tibet.The unrest erupted a fortnight before China's Olympic celebrations kick off with the start of the torch relay, which is scheduled to pass through Tibet.
The Dalai Lama emphasised that he still supported Beijing's staging of the Olympic Games this summer, saying it was an opportunity for the Chinese to show their support for the principle of freedom.The Dalai Lama emphasised that he still supported Beijing's staging of the Olympic Games this summer, saying it was an opportunity for the Chinese to show their support for the principle of freedom.


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