Lhasa riot out of conspiracy

BEIJING, March 17 (Xinhua) -- Qiangba Puncog, Tibet Autonomous Regional Government chairman, said here Monday that the latest riot in Lhasa was out of conspiracy jointly made by domestic and overseas separatists who are advocating "Tibet independence".

The Dalai clique masterminded, well planned and carefully organized the severe violence on March 14 in Lhasa, Qiangba Puncog said, citing that the rioters' activities were "crime".

The chairman said some monks threw stones at patrolling police Friday morning near Ramogia Monastery in Lhasa, which was followed by wider attacks of local mobs to not only law enforcers but also ordinary people and businesses.

Qiangba Puncog said the Friday riot was a sequel to the illegal gathering as well as verbal and physical assaults of unidentified people to the law enforcement on March 10, also in Lhasa.