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.

A total of 953 riot suspects have been detained, of whom 403 have been formally arrested, according to figures released yesterday.

About 360 people turned themselves in to the police, 328 of whom have been set free because they committed minor offenses and were willing to cooperate. Only 13 of the 93 suspects listed as the most wanted have been caught.

Qiangba Puncog stressed that the rioters were "an extremely tiny minority" of Tibetans; and the monks who took part in protests were also "an extremely tiny minority" of the Buddhist clergy.

"They do not, and cannot, represent Tibet and the Tibetan people," he added.

Qiangba Puncog promised that the government would do whatever necessary to help those affected by the riots, such as reducing taxes and providing interest-free loans.

He added that the local government offered compensation to families of the 18 innocent civilians who lost their lives; and affected factories and businesses also received government subsidies.

The government quickly restored public facilities such as power supply and telecommunications, he said.

"The lives of people in Lhasa have now returned to normal", he said.

The chairman also expressed confidence in a successful Olympic torch relay in Tibet.

"I have noticed the recent activities of some secessionists in London and Paris," he said. "As a Tibetan, I feel ashamed of them."