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Shops torched in Lhasa

— Photo: AFP

Rage on the streets: Protesters throw stones at army vehicles on a street in Lhasa, Tibet, on Friday.

LHASA (TIBET): Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region of China, witnessed violence on Friday with protesters setting many shops on fire.

Witnesses said a number of shops along two main streets in the city and around the Jokhang Temple, the Ramogia Monastery and the Chomsigkang Market were set on fire around 2 p.m.

All shops near the Jokhang Temple and Ramogia Monastery shut down in the wake of the violence.

Many injured

Witnesses said people ran out of the square in front of the Jokhang Temple after the fire erupted. Many were reportedly injured in the violence. Some vehicles were torched.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in Beijing on Thursday that the recent protests by some monks here was a deliberate political plot by followers of the Dalai Lama to cause social unrest, separate Tibet from China, and wreck the harmonious life of the Tibetan people.

He was responding to questions on the rally taken out by monks on Monday. Mr. Qin said the current situation was stable because of the prompt action taken by the local government.

“We are resolute”

“We are resolutely opposed to any plots attempting to separate Tibet from China,” Mr. Qin said.

Relevant Chinese departments will handle the issue. — Xinhua

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