The attempts of overseas secessionist groups involving Tibet to distort the truth and discredit the Chinese government will not succeed, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hong Lei said on Tuesday.

Hong made the remarks in response to a question on some overseas secessionist groups' hype on a clash between a mob and the police that occurred Monday afternoon in southwest China's Sichuan province.

At around 2 p.m. local time (6 a.m. GMT) on Monday, dozens of people, including some monks, stormed and smashed some stores along a main street and a police station in Luhuo county of Sichuan's Ganzi Tibetan autonomous prefecture.

The mob, some armed with knives, threw stones at police officers and destroyed two police vehicles and two ambulances.

One member of the mob was killed and four others injured in the clash, said the spokesman, adding that five police officers were also injured.

The injured have been sent to hospital for treatment and their injuries were not life threatening, Hong said.

"At present, Luhuo County has been returned to order and local authorities have been conducting an investigation into the incident," Hong said.

Local citizens firmly opposed and denounced the illegal gathering that seriously affected local social order and people's normal life, Hong said.

"The Chinese government will, as always, fight all crimes and be resolute in maintaining normal social order," he added.

"Overseas forces of 'Tibet independence' have always fabricated rumors and distorted the truth to discredit the Chinese government with issues involving Tibet," Hong said, adding that the ill-intentioned hype will not succeed.

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