BEIJING--Thousands of the troops responsible for the violent crackdown on the movement for freedom evacuated the city center early today, spraying gunfire as they passed Chinese and diplomatic residential areas.

Most of the troops from the 27th Army, riding in a convoy of hundreds of trucks and support vehicles, appeared to be shooting into the air, although some were seen aiming at an apartment complex where hundreds of diplomats and other foreigners live.

Some of the troops were crouched low and others were behind boards, apparently seeking cover from possible return fire. Rival military factions are reported stationed inside the city and on the outskirts.

The troops chanted, "Down with corruption, we love the people, we love the capital, we love youth, long live the Communist Party," as they left their positions in Tiananmen Square, the symbolic center of China.

People along the sidewalks initially cheered when they heard the chanting, but one office worker said, "They can sing any slogan they want but then they start shooting."

Other troops and tanks of the 27th Army remained in and around Tiananmen Square. It was not known if the army was conducting a complete evacuation.

It was the 27th that drove pro-democracy demonstrators from the center of Beijing on Saturday on orders from the hard-line hierarchy, killing hundreds in the most violent suppression of a popular movement in Communist China's 40-year history.

Yesterday, the 27th Army traded gunfire with the 28th Army, believed loyal to Zhao Ziyang, a moderate who challenged the conservatives and was stripped of his post as Communist Party leader. No casualties were reported.

Soldiers continued firing into crowds around Beijing four days after troops began killing hundreds of pro-democracy protesters in the most violent suppression of a popular movement in Communist China's 40-year history.

Witnesses reported a small boy killed and a girl wounded in the head. Police in riot gear cruised the streets in vans as night fell, beating up and shooting passers-by.

Anti-government demonstrations spread to Shanghai, Nanjing, Chengdu, Shenyang and other cities.

Other countries urged their citizens to leave Beijing. In Washington, an administration official said the United States was considering the use of chartered aircraft to evacuate Americans.

Yuan, the government spokesperson, said on television that 300 people had been killed, including 23 students, and 7000 were injured and 400 soldiers were missing. The evening television news said 32 people were arrested, most of them for trying to set fire to public buses.

Diplomats have estimated the death toll at about 3000.

Meanwhile, the political struggle between conservative and moderate factions of the Communist Party intensified as the military factions appeared to take sides.