Editorial cites 'life or death struggle'

An editorial in yesterday's state-run Tibet Daily vowed the government would not rest until 'it wins the battle'.

The strongly worded editorial described the crackdown on rioters as 'a life or death struggle'.

It said the rioters had 'vicious motives and their crimes reached heaven', and vowed to fight back until the riots were quelled.

'Tibet is crucial for the stability of the entire country and the security of Tibet is crucial for national security. We will wage a tit-for-tat struggle and unswervingly fight back to quell the incident promptly and decisively.'

It said the government would also mobilise all cadres and different ethnic groups in Tibet to wage an 'anti-splittist' war and swiftly arrest rioters.