By KUNA
Tokyo : Death toll from Friday’s riot in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa has increased from seven to 10, China’s official news agency Xinhua reported Saturday, citing the Tibet regional government.
“The victims are all innocent civilians, and they have been burnt to death, ” Xinhua quoted a local official as saying, adding that no casualties have been reported among foreigners.
“We have not received any report that foreigners suffered injuries or death in the beating, smashing, looting and burning on Friday,” the official said. The situation in Lhasa is calm on Saturday, after a violent day that saw windows smashed, shops robbed, mosques set on fire on Friday.
Armed police in Lhasa have rescued over 580 people, including three Japanese tourists, while more than 160 blazing spots, including 40 major fires, were reported after an outbreak of violent activities, it said.
Human rights groups said this week’s protests were the largest anti-government demonstrations in Lhasa for nearly 20 years.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday accused the Buddhist monks of collaborating with supporters of the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, to achieve Tibet’s independence, Xinhua said.
China has ruled the Buddhist region since 1951, but many Tibetans want independence or greater autonomy.