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China steps up Tibetan crackdown China steps up Tibetan crackdown
(about 2 hours later)
China has admitted for the first time anti-Beijing protests have spread outside the Tibetan Autonomous Region, as security is ratcheted up. China has admitted for the first time that anti-Beijing protests have spread outside the Tibetan Autonomous Region, as security is ratcheted up.
Xinhua news agency reported huge damage to government buildings and shops after riots in Sichuan province on Sunday.Xinhua news agency reported huge damage to government buildings and shops after riots in Sichuan province on Sunday.
And officials said 24 people had been arrested after demos in the Tibetan city of Lhasa, and 170 protesters had surrendered to authorities.And officials said 24 people had been arrested after demos in the Tibetan city of Lhasa, and 170 protesters had surrendered to authorities.
Hundreds of troops have been seen pouring into Tibetan areas.Hundreds of troops have been seen pouring into Tibetan areas.
Lhasa was said to be returning to calm amid the military build-up. On Wednesday alone, BBC reporters saw more than 400 troop carriers and other vehicles on the main road - the largest mobilisation witnessed since the unrest began.
And the authorities have placed strict limits on Western journalists trying to report on the unrest - with the last foreign journalist known to be in Lhasa being forced to leave. Security forces filmed the early protests in Lhasa
Reporting restrictions And the authorities have placed strict limits on Western journalists trying to report on the unrest.
Georg Blume, a German journalist who was forced out of Lhasa on Thursday, said security forces had told him he was the last foreign journalist in the city.
He told the BBC that police were "everywhere" and he had seen them going into houses and carrying out searches.
Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has reiterated his willingness to meet Chinese President Hu Jintao - if he receives "concrete indications" of what the Chinese can offer.
But senior Chinese officials have repeatedly accused him of orchestrating the protests from his base in the Indian town of Dharamsala, and the foreign ministry once again labelled him a "splittist" on Thursday.
TIBETAN PROTESTS Tibet: Protests began in Lhasa on 10 March, dozens reported dead over weekendGansu: Unrest spread to Machu, where Tibetan government in exile says 19 died, and near Hezuo, where protesters were filmed tearing down Tibetan flagSichuan: Reports of riots and casualties in Aba, and of unrest in other locationsQinghai: Other unrest reported Key events and placesTibet's unsettled bordersGansu streets desertedIn pictures: Troops go in
Meanwhile, the BBC has obtained dramatic footage filmed by the security forces of some of the first clashes between monks and the military last week.
Chinese and Tibetan sources have given very different accounts of the protests that began in Lhasa on 10 March, on the anniversary of a Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule.Chinese and Tibetan sources have given very different accounts of the protests that began in Lhasa on 10 March, on the anniversary of a Tibetan uprising against Chinese rule.
Police are still everywhere, and for the first time yesterday we saw police going into the houses and doing searches Georg BlumeGerman journalist in Lhasa class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7305362.stm">Gansu streets deserted class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7305966.stm">In pictures: Troops go in Xinhua, which is state-run, has published graphic articles describing the violence it blames on rioters, saying 13 people were stabbed or burnt to death in unrest in Lhasa.
On Thursday the official Tibet Daily quoted prosecutors as saying two dozen suspects had been arrested for "endangering national security as well as beating, smashing, looting, arson and other grave crimes". The agency referred to protesters in Aba country, Sichuan, as "mobsters", saying they had caused "great damage" to shops and government offices.
A government website quoted Lhasa deputy chief prosecutor Xie Yanjun as saying that suspects "should be severely punished to protect the strictness of the law". Tibetan exiles say that at least 99 people have died so far, including 80 in Lhasa - and accuse security forces of firing on crowds.
"This law-breaking was organised, premeditated and carefully planned by the Dalai clique," he said, reiterating China's claim that Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, had incited the unrest. 'Grave crimes'
TIBETAN PROTESTS Tibet: Protests began in Lhasa on 10 March, dozens reported dead over weekendGansu: Unrest spread to Machu, where Tibetan government in exile says 19 died, and near Hezuo, where protesters were filmed tearing down Tibetan flagSichuan: Reports of riots and casualties in Aba, and of unrest in other locationsQinghai: Other unrest reported class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7305288.stm">Key events and places class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7304825.stm">Tibet's unsettled borders State media reported that 170 people had now handed themselves in - up from the 105 people they said had surrendered to police in Lhasa.
State media reported that 170 people had handed themselves in - up from the 105 people they said had surrendered to police in Lhasa after being threatened with harsh punishment if they failed to meet a Monday deadline. The authorities had threatened "harsh punishments" for those who failed to meet a Monday deadline.
It is not clear whether the 24 arrested are among the 170 reported to have surrendered. Rights groups say they have heard reports of arrests in the hundreds.
Georg Blume, a German journalist who was forced out of Lhasa on Wednesday, told the BBC "things have been getting a little bit back to normal" in the city.
"But police are still everywhere, and for the first time yesterday [Tuesday] we saw police going into the houses and doing searches".
Protesters told him they had been angered by the repression of monks and daily discrimination against Tibetans, he said.
Gansu video
State media also reported for the first time that there had been unrest in the provinces of Sichuan and Gansu, neighbouring Tibet.
Xinhua news agency referred to protesters in Aba country, Sichuan as "mobsters", saying they had caused "great damage" to shops and government offices.
Gansu protesters tore up China's flag and raised the Tibetan one Protesters in China
Demonstrators had called for Tibetan independence and waved the flags of Tibet's "government-in-exile", it said.
Earlier, video emerged from Gansu showing Tibetans tearing down a Chinese flag and replacing it with a Tibetan one.
Hundreds of protesters can be seen on foot and horseback in Tuesday's incident at a school near Hezuo, captured by a Canadian film crew.
Crackdown
Chinese authorities have intensified efforts to bring Tibet under control, drawing in troops from neighbouring areas.
On Wednesday alone, BBC reporters saw more than 400 troop carriers and other vehicles on the main road - the largest mobilisation since the unrest began.
TIBET DIVIDE China says Tibet was always part of its territoryTibet enjoyed long periods of autonomy before 20th century1950: China launched a military assaultOpposition to Chinese rule led to a bloody uprising in 1959Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama fled to India Accounts from TibetSend us your commentsTIBET DIVIDE China says Tibet was always part of its territoryTibet enjoyed long periods of autonomy before 20th century1950: China launched a military assaultOpposition to Chinese rule led to a bloody uprising in 1959Tibet's spiritual leader the Dalai Lama fled to India Accounts from TibetSend us your comments
Tibetan exiles say that at least 99 people have died, including 80 in Lhasa. China says that 16 people were killed, including three rioters. On Thursday the state-run Tibet Daily quoted prosecutors as saying that two dozen suspects had been arrested for "endangering national security as well as beating, smashing, looting, arson and other grave crimes".
The Dalai Lama said he was concerned there could be a lot of casualties. Demonstrators had called for Tibetan independence and waved the flags of Tibet's "government-in-exile", it said.
"We don't know exact numbers. Some say six, some say 100, but places have been cut off. There are movements of Chinese troops. I am really worried a lot of casualties have happened." It was not clear whether the 24 arrested were among the 170 reported to have surrendered. Rights groups say they have heard reports that hundreds had been arrested.
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said China's Premier Wen Jiabao had told him he was open to talks under certain conditions.UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said China's Premier Wen Jiabao had told him he was open to talks under certain conditions.
He said he had told Mr Wen that he would meet the Dalai Lama during a visit to London in May and that the violence in Tibet must end.He said he had told Mr Wen that he would meet the Dalai Lama during a visit to London in May and that the violence in Tibet must end.
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