Shops were set on fire in violence in downtown Lhasa on Friday afternoon.

Witnesses said a number of shops along two main streets in this capital city of Tibet Autonomous Region and around Jokhang Temple, Ramogia Monastery, and Chomsigkang Market were set on fire around 2 p.m., sending out heavy smoke.

All shops close to the Jokhang Temple and Ramogia Monastery shut down business.

Witnesses said a lot of people ran out of the square in front of the Jokhang Temple soon after the fire erupted.

There were injuries reported in the violence and the injured have been hospitalized.

Some vehicles were burnt down and the violence continued as of 4:30 p.m..

(Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2008)