A policeman was shot dead during the pursuit of an alleged riot leader in northwest China's Qinghai Province, local authorities said on Tuesday.

Lama Cedain, a Tibetan officer in charge of criminal investigations in the Public Security Bureau of Dari County, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Golog, was wounded six times and died at about 6:30 a.m. on Monday, according to the Provincial Department of Public Security.

Following the March 14 unrest in Lhasa, a handful of people alleged to be insurgents seeking "Tibetan independence" incited herders in Hongke Town, Dari County, to riot on March 21, the department said.

After a month-long investigation, the police moved on Monday to arrest the suspected leader. The suspect resisted arrest and gunfire broke out.

The officer was killed in the gun battle, the department said, and other officers returned fire, killing the suspect.

The body of Lama Cedain was moved to Xining, Qinghai's capital, on Tuesday, and a memorial has been scheduled for Wednesday.

(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2008)