(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-18 23:56

BEIJING  -- Relevant departments in Tibet Autonomous Region were taking legal measures to deal with the recent riot in Lhasa, the regional capital, and the current situation there had returned to normal, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang here Tuesday.

"We have ample evidence to prove that the Lhasa riot was organized, premeditated, masterminded and incited by the Dalai Lama clique," Qin told a regular press conference.

He made the remarks when asked by a journalist to respond to a European Union's presidency statement on the Lhasa incident.

Qin said China has noticed the statement issued by the EU, and has informed the EU and its member countries on the truth of the Lhasa riot and treatment by relevant departments of Tibet.

He said local government has been taking legal and reasonable measures to deal with the incident in order to maintain social stability, defend the nation's legal system and safeguard the fundamental interests of the people of all ethnic groups in Tibet. Law enforcers exercised  extreme restraint in handling the incident, the spokesman said.

Qin said the riot not only caused heavy losses of life and property in the city, but also seriously disturbed social order.

He said the action of the lawless persons was not at all a "peaceful demonstration" but a violent crime. "The law breakers killed innocent people, arousing great indignation and condemnation from the people of all ethnic groups in Tibet," he said.

He said the riot, which seriously trampled fundamental human rights and freedom principles, exposed once again the secessionist nature of the Dalai Lama clique and the hypocritical and fraudulent nature of its so-called "peace" and "non-violence" allegations.

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