At least 373 business people and 32 enterprises have reported damage from the Lhasa unrest, with losses exceeding 99.1 million yuan (about 14 million U.S. dollars), a preliminary investigation showed.

The claimants were from trade, catering, services, tourism and the processing industry, according to the regional industrial and commercial bureau of Tibet.

The losses are likely to rise as damage is investigated in the areas that were worst hit in Friday's violence, such as Bargor Street, Hongqi Street and sections of other streets, according to the bureau.

"These areas, which are home to more than 5,600 shops, are the main business centers of Lhasa," said an official with the bureau.

Qiangba Puncog, chairman of Tibet Autonomous Region government, told reporters on Monday that 13 innocent civilians were burned or stabbed to death in the riots.

The rioters set fires at more than 300 locations, including homes and 214 shops, and smashed and burned 56 vehicles, which caused heavy losses of life and property and seriously disturbed social order, officials said.

(Xinhua News Agency, March 19, 2008)