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| China reimposes curfew in Urumqi | China reimposes curfew in Urumqi |
| (21 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 (1100 GMT). | |
| 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' | 'Safety is paramount' |
| News of the curfew comes as hundreds of Muslim Uighurs defied an order to stay at home for Friday prayers. | 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. | They gathered outside a number of mosques in the city demanding to be allowed in. It appears their demands were met without challenge. |
| It is just too risky to stay here. We are scared of the violence Chinese construction worker | |
| One worshipper, speaking after attending prayers, said they had been warned to be careful. | 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. | "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. | "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. | 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". | One official told AP the decision was made "for the sake of public safety". |
| 'Too risky' | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| The atmosphere remains tense, with troops in place across the city and armed police surrounding Uighur neighbourhoods. | |
| More than 1,400 people are thought to have been detained. | |
| 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. | |
| 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: | |
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