Beijing - The death toll from a crackdown by Chinese security forces on protesting Tibetans in south-western China might be as high as six, residents and exile sources said Tuesday. Chinese authorities confirmed one death in the protest Monday in Sichuan province's Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture.

The government said one demonstrator was killed and five police injured when several dozen people, including monks, attacked a police station with rocks and clubs and clashed with officers, but Tibetan campaigners and exile groups said security forces fired on peaceful demonstrators in a prefecture known for its strong Tibetan identity and opposition to Chinese rule.

As many as six could have died in the shootings in Luhuo county (called Draggo in Tibetan) on the first day of the Chinese New Year, the Tibetan parliament in exile and Radio Free Asia reported, citing Tibetans in the area and in exile.

The International Campaign for Tibet, which put the death toll at three, said the demonstration began after 17 Tibetans had set themselves on fire since March and leaflets were distributed in the region calling for Tibetans not to celebrate the New Year because of the self-immolations.

Tibetans living in exile told the advocacy group that the Chinese government had heightened anger by tightening control of the area after the distribution of the leaflets, which also stated the author's intention to commit self-immolation for next month's Tibetan New Year.

Scores of Tibetans were demanding an end to Chinese rule of Tibetans and a return of the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, when Chinese authorities opened 'indiscriminate' fire, the Tibetan parliament in exile said.

'When we reached the police station, police fired on us with automatic weapons,' a monk who was among the protesters told Radio Free Asia. 'They also used firefighters and tear gas to disperse the crowd.' About 30 demonstrators were injured, and hundreds were detained, participants told Radio Free Asia. Protesters also attacked Chinese stories and facilities, it said.

The Chinese government accused supporters of Tibetan independence of spreading false rumours and distorting the truth.

'The Chinese government will, as always, fight all crimes and be resolute in maintaining normal social order,' said Hong Lei, the Foreign Ministry spokesman.

The government said a mob stormed and damaged shops and a police station and destroyed two police cars and two ambulances.

The organization Free Tibet said unrest was also reported Monday in the neighbouring prefecture of Aba (known as Ngaba in Tibetan), where security forces used tear gas against demonstrators. The Chinese government said order had been restored, but exiled Tibetans said tensions remained after Monday's incident. About 6,000 Tibetans from surrounding areas had assembled in protest at the Draggo monastery, where 32 injured from Monday's protest had been taken, Radio Free Asia said. The injured were reluctant to seek treatment at hospitals for fear of arrest, Tibetans, campaigners and exiles said.



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