Pro-Tibetan 'insurgent' shot, China confirms
Wednesday, 30 Apr 2008 12:08
China says police officer killed as Tibetan 'rioter' shot
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China has confirmed that security forces shot and killed a pro-Tibetan protestor earlier this week.
It is the first time Beijing has announced the death of any ethnic Tibetans following March's pro-independence demonstrations.
A senior police officer also died in the operation targeting what state media described as "a riot leader" in Qinghai province, north-west China.
"After a month-long investigation, the police moved on Monday to arrest the suspected leader. The suspect resisted arrest and gunfire broke out," Xinhua news agency said, citing the province's public security department.
"The officer was killed in the gun battle, and other officers returned fire, killing the suspect."
Xinhua, China's official news agency, named the dead officer as ethnic Tibetan Lama Cedain, but did not identify the suspect.
According to the Tibetan government in exile, more than 200 people were killed following protests in regional capital Lhasa in March.
Prior to today's announcement, China has denied its security forces have used lethal force in its response to the demonstrations.