The Communist Party's official People's Daily said on itswebsite that a car had caught fire. It provided no otherdetails.
Beijing police, reached by telephone, said they had noinformation. The Beijing government, also reached by telephone,said it did not know what had happened.
The Reuters witness said he saw fire engines, an ambulanceand numerous police cars heading in the direction of the fire,which sent a plume of black smoke into the sky.