The chief criminals who fanned last Friday's Lhasa riot involving beating, smashing, looting and arson will be dealt with according to law, said a veteran Tibetan official here on Wednesday.

Ragdi, former vice-chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, made the remark at a meeting of the Counseling Committee on Development of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

A violent riot erupted in Tibet's capital Lhasa on the afternoon of last Friday. Lawless people set fires at more than 300 locations and attacked schools, banks, hospitals, shops, government offices, utilities and state media offices. Thirteen civilians were burnt or stabbed to death in the incident.

There is plenty of evidence to prove that the incident was organized, premeditated, masterminded and incited by the Dalai clique, said Ragdi, also former top legislator of the autonomous region.

Tibetan law enforcement authorities issued a notice on Saturday, urging lawbreakers in last Friday's riot to stop criminal activities and offering leniency to those who surrender themselves.

Tibet regional government said by 11 p.m. on Tuesday, 105 people had surrendered to police for their involvement in the riot.

Thirteen civilians were burned or stabbed to death in the unrest. Sixty-one police were injured, six of them seriously. Rioters set fires at more than 300 locations and attacked schools, banks, hospitals, shops, government offices, utilities and state media offices.

A preliminary investigation showed at least 373 business people and 32 enterprises had reported damages from the riot, with loss exceeding 99.1 million yuan (about 14 million U.S. dollars) as of Tuesday night, according to the regional department of commerce.

The life in Lhasa has returned to normal. Traffic on the main streets has resumed. Government institutions, businesses, schools, and major farm produce markets have started normal operation, said the city mayor Doje Cezhug on Monday.

(Xinhua News Agency March 19, 2008)