China struggled to quell the monks-led revolt that reverberated worldwide and threatened to cast a shadow on 2008 Olympics here.

“The victims are all innocent civilians and they have been burnt to death,” a local official said in Lhasa.
The Chinese head of the Tibetan government vowed stern action against the rioters, while authorities asked the protesters to surrender by Monday or face punishment. “We will deal harshly with these criminals in accordance with the law,” Champa Phutsok, chairman of Tibetan government, said here, adding the “plot is doomed to failure”.

After a day of rioting, streets in Lhasa remained virtually deserted on Saturday with burnt cars, motorcycles and bicycles strewn all over.

While authorities said that the situation was “in the process of calming down” in Lhasa, fresh protests erupted on China’s northwest Gansu province near Tibet. Protests were held at the UN headquarters, in front of the Chinese consulate in Sydney and outside the UN office in Nepal on Saturday. It was part of the stir launched to mark the 49th anniversary of the failed Tibetan uprising against the 57-year Chinese rule in the Himalayan region.

The protesters carrying placards and yellow and red Tibetan flags shouted “Free Tibet!” and “Wake up United Nations!” and “No peace, no Olympics!” outside the UN office in New York.

Sun Weide, a spokesman for the Beijing Olympics organising committee, however, said the unrest would not have a negative impact on the Games or the torch relay. Preparations to carry the Olympic torch across Tibet “have been proceeding very smoothly and according to schedule,” Sun said.

While international community including the US, the UK, and Sweden, expressed concern over the violence and urged China to exercise restraint, Beijing intensified its vitriolic attack on Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama describing him as an “impudent politician” who had turned Lhasa into a land of terror. International media has urged the world leaders to press China to respect the rights of Tibetans. “World leaders should also urge China to follow its constitution, which requires freedom of speech and religion, as well as self-rule for ethnic minorities,” The Washington Times said.