Fifty-five people have so far been sentenced for involvement in the March 14 Lhasa riots, the vice-chairman of the regional government said yesterday.

Following the violence, police detained 1,317 people, of whom 1,115 were later released. The violence involved widespread attacks against people and property, in which 18 innocent civilians and one police officer died, and 382 civilians and 241 police officers were injured.

Previous reports said that by April 29, 30 people had been convicted of arson, robbery, disrupting public order and attacking government offices, among other crimes.

Their sentences ranged from three years to life.

(Xinhua News Agency November 5, 2008)