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Torch passed to Silk Road oasis Torch passed to Silk Road oasis
(about 5 hours later)
China's torch relay has moved on to the ancient Silk Road city of Kashgar, on the second day of its journey through the mainly Muslim Xinjiang region.China's torch relay has moved on to the ancient Silk Road city of Kashgar, on the second day of its journey through the mainly Muslim Xinjiang region.
The Xinjiang leg is a highly sensitive part of the torch's relay. Relations between the Chinese authorities and the Muslim Uighur people are tense. Hundreds of police lined the streets as the first torch-bearer set off.
Officials fear separatists may target the relay but the torch's run through Xinjiang's capital Urumqi was calm. The Xinjiang leg is a highly sensitive part of the relay. Relations between the Chinese authorities and the Muslim Uighur people are tense.
Officials fear separatists may target the relay but its run in Xinjiang's capital, Urumqi, on Tuesday was calm.
The relay was moved forward by one week in an apparent bid to avoid unrest.The relay was moved forward by one week in an apparent bid to avoid unrest.
CHINA'S UIGHURS Ethnically Turkic Muslims, mainly in XinjiangMade bid for independent state in 1940sSporadic violence in Xinjiang since 1991Uighurs worried about Chinese immigration and erosion of traditional culture class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7457294.stm">In pictures: Life in Urumqi class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7456710.stm">View from Urumqi Many Uighurs resent the large-scale influx of Han Chinese settlers into the resource-rich region, and some groups are fighting to establish an independent Islamic nation, which has led to periodic violence in Xinjiang. In Beijing, meanwhile, Olympic organisers have confirmed that the torch will reach Tibet - another potential hotspot - on Saturday.
Beijing accuses the groups of links to al-Qaeda and claims this year to have foiled at least two Xinjiang-based plots targeting the Olympic Games. A planned three-day stay there has been cut to one day because of schedule adjustments linked to last month's Sichuan earthquake, they said.
But human rights groups accuse the Chinese authorities of using the alleged terror links as a way of cracking down on the independence movement. The relay will run through the main city, Lhasa, where there were violent anti-China protests in March.
The torch's visit to another potential hotspot, Tibet's main city, Lhasa, has also been moved forward in an attempt to avoid disruption. Police presence
Residents indoors Chinese authorities have been working to ensure that the Xinjiang segment of the relay passes off smoothly, despite the tensions in the region. CHINA'S UIGHURS Ethnically Turkic Muslims, mainly in XinjiangMade bid for independent state in 1940sSporadic violence in Xinjiang since 1991Uighurs worried about Chinese immigration and erosion of traditional culture class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7457294.stm">In pictures: Life in Urumqi class="" href="/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7456710.stm">View from Urumqi
In Urumqi, very tight security was put in place ahead of the relay. Police carried out vehicle checks and set up checkpoints in the normally busy city. Many Uighurs resent the large-scale influx of Han Chinese settlers into resource-rich Xinjiang. There is periodic violence attributed to groups seeking an independent Islamic nation.
Advertisement Beijing accuses these groups of links to al-Qaeda and says it has uncovered a number of Xinjiang-based plots targeting the Olympic Games.
The Olympic torch passes through Urumqi But human rights groups say China uses the alleged terror links as a way of cracking down on the independence movement.
Local residents who live and work along the route of the torch relay were instructed to stay inside, keep well away from their windows and watch the proceedings on television, the BBC's James Reynolds reports from Urumqi. Kashgar is seen as one of the main Islamic centres in the region - more so than Urumqi, where Tuesday's relay passed off peacefully.
Our correspondent saw a handful of people daring to look out of the window in one office block, but every other window was empty. The relay in Kashgar began at the main square in front of the city's giant Idkhar Mosque.
We saw sizeable but very carefully chosen crowds on both sides of the road James Reynolds Reynolds' China: Limited viewing The BBC's James Reynolds, in Kashgar, said that there was a huge security presence, with police searching people thoroughly. We saw sizeable but very carefully chosen crowds on both sides of the road James Reynolds Reynolds' China: Limited viewing
People entering People's Square - where the relay began - had to pass through metal detectors while police searched their bags. As in Urumqi, some residents told the BBC they had been told to stay at home and watch the relay on television.
The majority of the crowd there were Han Chinese, and they waved flags of support, chanting "Go, China!" and "Go, Olympics!" A short ceremony was held in the square and then the first runner ran out on a red carpet in front of a carefully-selected cheering crowd, our correspondent said.
Kashgar flashpoint? After the torch's run through the Silk Road oasis city of Kashgar, it moves on to the cities of Shihezi and Changji on Thursday.
The flame's passage through the city was peaceful, but the danger of disruption to the Xinjiang leg has not passed.
After the torch's run through the Silk Road oasis city of Kashgar, it moves on to the cities of Shihezi and Changji on Thursday, before progressing to Tibet for a relay in Lhasa on Saturday.
Kashgar is under tight security for the event. Soldiers and fire fighters are reportedly patrolling the main square.
The city is seen as one of the main Islamic centres in the region - more so than Urumqi.
Are you in Urumqi or Kashgar? Did you witness the torch relay in Urumqi? Will you be attending the procession in Kashgar? Send us your comments and experiences.Are you in Urumqi or Kashgar? Did you witness the torch relay in Urumqi? Will you be attending the procession in Kashgar? Send us your comments and experiences.
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