Chinese security forces poured into Lhasa even as the local government today launched a “people’s war” to crush the massive pro-independence protests, ahead of the deadline to agitating Tibetans to surrender.

No fresh bloodletting was reported in Lhasa where 10 people were killed and 12 security personnel injured after the protests, launched as part of the stir to mark the 49th anniversary of the failed Tibetan uprising against the 57-year Chinese rule, turned violent.

But rights groups claimed that seven people were killed today after the violent protests spilled to nearby provinces of Sichuan, Qinghai and Gansu with significant Tibetan population.

A day after setting a Monday deadline for rioters to surrender or face punishment, Tibetan political and security chiefs declared a “people’s war” against the protesters and vowed to “expose” the Dalai Lama group.

“We must wage a people’s war to beat splittism and expose and condemn the malicious acts of these hostile forces and expose the hideous face of the Dalai Lama group to the light of day,” they were quoted as saying by media after an emergency meeting.

International pressure mounted on Beijing to show restraint in handling the protests that convulsed Tibet at a time when Beijing is going all out to showcase China through the Olympic eyes.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, in a statement, urged Chinese government to exercise restraint in dealing with the protests and expressed concern over reports of a “sharply increased” police and military presence in and around Lhasa.

European nations, Australia and China’s close neighbour Japan have also voiced concern.

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