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| China reimposes curfew in Urumqi | China reimposes curfew in Urumqi |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| A night-time curfew has been reimposed in the restive western Chinese city of Urumqi, officials have announced. | A night-time curfew has been reimposed in the restive western Chinese city of Urumqi, officials have announced. |
| The curfew had been suspended for the last two days after officials said they had the city under control. | The curfew had been suspended for the last two days after officials said they had the city under control. |
| Mosques in the city were ordered to remain closed on Friday - but at least two opened at the request of crowds of Muslim Uighurs that gathered outside. | Mosques in the city were ordered to remain closed on Friday - but at least two opened at the request of crowds of Muslim Uighurs that gathered outside. |
| The city remains tense after Sunday's outbreak of ethnic violence that killed 156 people and wounded more than 1,000. | The city remains tense after Sunday's outbreak of ethnic violence that killed 156 people and wounded more than 1,000. |
| Thousands of people - both Han Chinese and Uighurs - are reportedly trying to leave the city. | Thousands of people - both Han Chinese and Uighurs - are reportedly trying to leave the city. |
| The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Urumqi said the authorities had announced the city would be under curfew on Friday from 1900 local time. | The BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Urumqi said the authorities had announced the city would be under curfew on Friday from 1900 local time. |
| A curfew was imposed on Urumqi earlier in the week, but it was suspended after the authorities said they had the city under control, he adds. | A curfew was imposed on Urumqi earlier in the week, but it was suspended after the authorities said they had the city under control, he adds. |
| 'Safety is paramount' | |
| News of the curfew comes as hundreds of Muslim Uighurs defied an order to stay at home for Friday prayers. | |
| They gathered outside a number of mosques in the city demanding to be allowed in. It appears their demands were met without challenge. | |
| One worshipper, speaking after attending prayers, said they had been warned to be careful. | |
| "They told us safety is paramount and we should quickly finish our prayers, go home and have a good rest," he said. | |
| "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. | |
| Earlier, 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. | |
| One official told AP the decision was made "for the sake of public safety". |