5 suspects arrested in Lhasa

A spokeswoman from the Ministry of Public Security told the press Monday in Beijing that five suspects involved in the two arson cases in Lhasa on March 14th and 15th have been arrested.

The spokeswoman says the five suspects are three women and two men, aged between 20 to 25 years old. All are local Tibetans. But the Spokesperson did not reveal the specific motives of their crime.

The two arson cases involve a clothing and motorcycle outlet in the Tibetan capital. 10 people died, including an eight-month-old baby.

Shan Huimin, spokeswoman of Ministry of Public Security, said, "These two cases of arson have fully demonstrated that the March 14th incident was not at all the so-called "peaceful protests", but a purely severe and violent criminal case."

Shan Huimin said the police exercised great restraint in dealing with the incident. She said they did not use any lethal weapons, and 242 policemen were injured during the riots.