Magnitude of riot losses much larger

The damage caused in the March 14 Lhasa riots is estimated at 280 million yuan ($40 million), almost double the earlier figure of 150 million yuan ($21.4 million), Tibet's top official said yesterday.

Eighteen people were killed and hundreds injured in the riots.

"As chairman of the Tibet autonomous region, I failed to protect the people in Lhasa. I deeply apologize for that," Qiangba Puncog told a press conference organized by the State Council Information Office.