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| Some mosques defy order to shut | Some mosques defy order to shut |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Some mosques in the western Chinese city of Urumqi have opened their doors to worshippers, in spite of an earlier order for them to stay closed. | Some mosques in the western Chinese city of Urumqi have opened their doors to worshippers, in spite of an earlier order for them to stay closed. |
| At least two mosques opened after crowds gathered outside. It was not immediately clear if the authorities had sanctioned the move. | At least two mosques opened after crowds gathered outside. It was not immediately clear if the authorities had sanctioned the move. |
| Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang region, remains tense after days of ethnic violence that left 156 people dead. | Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang region, remains tense after days of ethnic violence that left 156 people dead. |
| Thousands of people are reportedly trying to leave the city. | Thousands of people are reportedly trying to leave the city. |
| The main bus station has seen 10,000 people go through its doors in recent days - double its normal traffic - an official there said. | The main bus station has seen 10,000 people go through its doors in recent days - double its normal traffic - an official there said. |
| Both Han Chinese and Muslim Uighurs are said to be fleeing the city, which still has a heavy security presence following the violence that began on Sunday. | Both Han Chinese and Muslim Uighurs are said to be fleeing the city, which still has a heavy security presence following 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, the holiest day of the week in Islam. | Officials posted notices outside Urumqi's mosques, instructing people to stay at home to worship on Friday, the holiest day of the week in Islam. |
| I'm glad they are letting us in today. There would have been a lot of unhappiness if they hadn't Ahmedadji Muslim Uighur worshipper class="" href="/2/hi/in_pictures/8143835.stm">In pictures: Closed mosques | |
| One official told the Associated Press the decision was made "for the sake of public safety". | One official told the Associated Press the decision was made "for the sake of public safety". |
| But hundreds of Uighurs defied the order and gathered outside at least two mosques in the city. | But hundreds of Uighurs defied the order and gathered outside at least two mosques in the city. |
| The BBC's Quentin Sommerville, outside one of the mosques, was told by one worshipper that they had insisted they be allowed in - and the gates were opened without any resistance or violence. | The BBC's Quentin Sommerville, outside one of the mosques, was told by one worshipper that they had insisted they be allowed in - and the gates were opened without any resistance or violence. |
| "We decided to open the mosque because so many people had gathered. We did not want an incident," a policeman outside the White Mosque in a Uighur neighbourhood told the Associated Press. | "We decided to open the mosque because so many people had gathered. We did not want an incident," a policeman outside the White Mosque in a Uighur neighbourhood told the Associated Press. |
| "I'm glad they are letting us in today," one worshipper, Ahmedadji, was quoted by the Reuters news agency as saying. | "I'm glad they are letting us in today," one worshipper, Ahmedadji, was quoted by the Reuters news agency as saying. |
| "There would have been a lot of unhappiness if they hadn't". | "There would have been a lot of unhappiness if they hadn't". |
| 'Too risky' | 'Too risky' |
| Meanwhile, the city's main bus station is reported to be heaving with people trying to escape the unrest. | Meanwhile, the city's main bus station is reported to be heaving with people trying to escape the unrest. |
| Extra bus services have been laid on and touts are charging up to five times the normal face price for tickets, the AFP reports. | Extra bus services have been laid on and touts are charging up to five times the normal face price for tickets, the AFP reports. |
| 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 |
| "It is just too risky to stay here. We are scared of the violence," a 23-year-old construction worker from central China said. | "It is just too risky to stay here. We are scared of the violence," a 23-year-old construction worker from central China said. |
| Many are university students, who have been told to leave the city earlier than they might have planned. | Many are university students, who have been told to leave the city earlier than they might have planned. |
| 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. |
| 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 the city and armed police surrounding Uighur neighbourhoods, says our correspondent. | The atmosphere remains tense, with troops in place across the 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. |
| Are you leaving Urumqi? What has been your experience of the unrest in the city in recent days? Please send us your comments using the form below: | Are you leaving Urumqi? What has been your experience of the unrest in the city in recent days? Please send us your comments using the form below: |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |