Police have discovered evidence the March 17 riot in Aba prefecture, Sichuan Province, was masterminded by the same people as the March 14 riot in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, an Aba official said yesterday.

Xiao Youcai, deputy head of the Aba Tibetan-Qiang autonomous prefecture, told a press conference rioters in the two incidents used nearly identical strategies.

"Rioters in the two incidents both shouted political slogans aimed at dividing the country, and some monks led the riots and participated in the looting and arsons They both mainly targeted government agencies, police stations and shops on major streets," Xiao said.

"This proves the two riots were not separate but rather, carefully masterminded and organized violent activities of the Dalai clique."

Xiao said much of the evidence could not yet be made public, as investigations were ongoing.

Following the unrest that erupted in Lhasa on March 14, Aba county of the Aba Tibetan-Qiang autonomous prefecture in Sichuan on March 16 became the site of criminal violence led by monks from the Kirti Monastery, Xiao said.

The mob, with some members waving flags of the so-called "Tibetan government-in-exile", holding portraits of the Dalai Lama and shouting "Tibetan independence" slogans, committed assault, vandalism, looting and arson on the county's main streets, Xiao said.

More than 200 people were injured, and 24 shops and 81 vehicles were set on fire in the March 16 riot in Aba.

"The mob attacked the police and tried to take their guns," Xiao said. "Some of them even attempted to break into a local ammunition depot and the detention center under the local security bureau."

He also said no deaths had been reported. Two police stations were set on fire during the unrest.

"The economic loss caused by the riots amounts to more than 10 years worth of Aba county's fiscal revenue," he said.

With the support of local people of various ethnicities, the situation was soon brought under control and social order was restored, he said. Aba, located among renowned scenic spots, such as Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong, is now safe for tourists, Xiao said.

Ammunition was found last Friday in the Kirti Monastery. The raid yielded 30 guns, 498 bullets, 4 kg of gunpowder and 33 swords, he said.

(China Daily April 4, 2008)