Rioters shouting "Tibet independence" slogans attacked government offices and schools and burnt down shops in northwest China's Gansu Province, a provincial government official said yesterday.

The unrest broke out in about five counties of the Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, in southern Gansu, from last Saturday. Some of the rioters held flags of the so-called Tibetan government-in-exile and carried paintings of Dalai Lama, government sources said.

"Judging from all the signs, the destruction was organized and fanned by separatists inside China and abroad to undermine social order," said Mao Shengwu, head of the prefecture.

In Xiahe County, one of the worst hit, windows of many buildings were shattered. Government offices and medical clinics in the county's Amqog Township were seriously damaged. Trees at Amqog's police station were felled and television sets were destroyed.

In Luqu County, a mob of more than 200 stormed government buildings, banks and shops on Sunday. Crowds burnt 18 vehicles and set fire to about 100 shops. Eight policemen were hurt when trying to prevent them from looting, officials said.

On Tuesday, 12 towns were subject to destruction carried out by the mobs. Three government employees were hurt.

"These riotous activities, from Saturday onwards, were not coincidental, but coordinated and closely linked with the unrest in Lhasa last Friday," said Zhang Yusheng, a spokesman with the Gansu provincial government, yesterday.

Meanwhile, shops and offices in Aba County in southwestern Sichuan Province were damaged in attacks. Police and government officials were injured by the rioters, county officials said yesterday.

(Xinhua News Agency March 20, 2008)