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| China bans Urumqi mosque prayers | China bans Urumqi mosque prayers |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| China ordered mosques not to open for Friday prayers in the western city of Urumqi, which has been hit by several days of ethnic violence. | China ordered mosques not to open for Friday prayers in the western city of Urumqi, which has been hit by several days of ethnic violence. |
| Public notices were put on gates of mosques across the city, although at least one mosque did open for prayers at the request of worshippers. | Public notices were put on gates of mosques across the city, although at least one mosque did open for prayers at the request of worshippers. |
| Thousands of troops remain in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang province, to try to maintain order. | Thousands of troops remain in Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang province, to try to maintain order. |
| Thousands of people are reportedly trying to leave the city. | Thousands of people are reportedly trying to leave the city. |
| An official at the main bus station told the AFP news agency some 10,000 people - both Han Chinese and Muslim Uighurs - had left via the station since the weekend's violence, double the normal traffic. | An official at the main bus station told the AFP news agency some 10,000 people - both Han Chinese and Muslim Uighurs - had left via the station since the weekend's violence, double the normal traffic. |
| Some 156 people have died and more than 1,000 injured in the violence that began on Sunday. | Some 156 people have died and more than 1,000 injured in the violence that began on Sunday. |
| Crowds gather | Crowds gather |
| Officials posted notices outside Urumqi's mosques, instructing people to stay at home to worship on Friday. | Officials posted notices outside Urumqi's mosques, instructing people to stay at home to worship on Friday. |
| The government is afraid that people will use religion to support the three forces Tursun, Uighur | The government is afraid that people will use religion to support the three forces Tursun, Uighur |
| But at least one mosque in a Uighur neighbourhood opened its doors, after crowds of worshippers gathered outside. | But at least one mosque in a Uighur neighbourhood opened its doors, after crowds of worshippers gathered outside. |
| The BBC's Quentin Sommerville said the mosque was opened without any violence and people were allowed to go in and celebrate Friday prayers. | The BBC's Quentin Sommerville said the mosque was opened without any violence and people were allowed to go in and celebrate Friday prayers. |
| However, other mosques in the city remain closed on what is the holiest day of the week in Islam. | However, other mosques in the city remain closed on what is the holiest day of the week in Islam. |
| 'Al-Qaeda links' | 'Al-Qaeda links' |
| The violence began on Sunday when Uighurs rallied to protest against a deadly brawl between Uighurs and Han several weeks ago in a toy factory in southern Guangdong province. | The violence began on Sunday when Uighurs rallied to protest against a deadly brawl between Uighurs and Han several weeks ago in a toy factory in southern Guangdong province. |
| XINJIANG: ETHNIC UNREST Main ethnic division: 45% Uighur, 40% Han Chinese26 June: Mass factory brawl after dispute between Han Chinese and Uighurs in Guangdong, southern China, leaves two Uighurs dead5 July: Uighur protest in Urumqi over the dispute turns violent, leaving 156 dead - most of them thought to be Han - and more than 1,000 hurt7 July: Uighur women protest at arrests of menfolk. Han Chinese make armed counter-march8 July: President Hu Jintao returns from G8 summit to tackle crisis New media openness Q&A: China and the Uighurs Taboo of ethnic tensions Profile: Rebiya Kadeer | XINJIANG: ETHNIC UNREST Main ethnic division: 45% Uighur, 40% Han Chinese26 June: Mass factory brawl after dispute between Han Chinese and Uighurs in Guangdong, southern China, leaves two Uighurs dead5 July: Uighur protest in Urumqi over the dispute turns violent, leaving 156 dead - most of them thought to be Han - and more than 1,000 hurt7 July: Uighur women protest at arrests of menfolk. Han Chinese make armed counter-march8 July: President Hu Jintao returns from G8 summit to tackle crisis New media openness Q&A: China and the Uighurs Taboo of ethnic tensions Profile: Rebiya Kadeer |
| Officials say 156 people - mostly Han - died in Sunday's violence. | Officials say 156 people - mostly Han - died in Sunday's violence. |
| Ethnic Han vigilante groups have been threatening to take revenge, leaving many Uighurs afraid to leave their homes. | Ethnic Han vigilante groups have been threatening to take revenge, leaving many Uighurs afraid to leave their homes. |
| The atmosphere remains tense, with troops in place across city and armed police surrounding Uighur neighbourhoods, says our correspondent. | The atmosphere remains tense, with troops in place across city and armed police surrounding Uighur neighbourhoods, says our correspondent. |
| More than 1,400 people are thought to have been detained. | More than 1,400 people are thought to have been detained. |
| On Thursday, China said it had "a great deal of evidence" that some of those involved in the violence had "training from foreign terrorist groups including al-Qaeda". | On Thursday, China said it had "a great deal of evidence" that some of those involved in the violence had "training from foreign terrorist groups including al-Qaeda". |
| Foreign ministry official Qin Gang did not say what the evidence was, but said the groups were "inextricably linked with three vicious forces from abroad". | Foreign ministry official Qin Gang did not say what the evidence was, but said the groups were "inextricably linked with three vicious forces from abroad". |
| Beijing has also accused US-based Uighur leader-in-exile Rebiya Kadeer of organising the disorder. She has denied the allegations. | Beijing has also accused US-based Uighur leader-in-exile Rebiya Kadeer of organising the disorder. She has denied the allegations. |
| Tensions have been growing in Xinjiang for many years, as Han migrants have poured into the region, where the Uighur minority is concentrated. | Tensions have been growing in Xinjiang for many years, as Han migrants have poured into the region, where the Uighur minority is concentrated. |
| Many Uighurs feel economic growth has bypassed them and complain of discrimination and diminished opportunities. | Many Uighurs feel economic growth has bypassed them and complain of discrimination and diminished opportunities. |
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