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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| 'Five die' in China ethnic unrest | 'Five die' in China ethnic unrest |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Five people have been killed in ethnic unrest in China's western city of Urumqi this week, officials say. | Five people have been killed in ethnic unrest in China's western city of Urumqi this week, officials say. |
| It was unclear how the deaths happened, but thousands of Han Chinese have been protesting over an unexplained spate of stabbings with syringes. | It was unclear how the deaths happened, but thousands of Han Chinese have been protesting over an unexplained spate of stabbings with syringes. |
| Many of the protesters blame ethnic Uighur Muslims for the stabbings. | Many of the protesters blame ethnic Uighur Muslims for the stabbings. |
| Riot police used tear gas to disperse angry crowds earlier, and China's top security official has arrived in Urumqi to try to restore order. | Riot police used tear gas to disperse angry crowds earlier, and China's top security official has arrived in Urumqi to try to restore order. |
| In July about 200 people - mostly Han Chinese - were killed in ethnic riots in Urumqi. | In July about 200 people - mostly Han Chinese - were killed in ethnic riots in Urumqi. |
| Chinese authorities blame Uighur separatists for July's violence, saying it was orchestrated by Uighur separatists in exile. | Chinese authorities blame Uighur separatists for July's violence, saying it was orchestrated by Uighur separatists in exile. |
| Xinjiang's population is split between mainly-Muslim Uighurs and Han Chinese - the country's majority ethnic group. | Xinjiang's population is split between mainly-Muslim Uighurs and Han Chinese - the country's majority ethnic group. |
| 'Undermining unity' | 'Undermining unity' |
| Zhang Hong, vice-mayor of Urumqi, confirmed to reporters that there had been casualties in the latest unrest. | Zhang Hong, vice-mayor of Urumqi, confirmed to reporters that there had been casualties in the latest unrest. |
| "On Thursday, 14 people were injured and sent to hospital and five people were killed in the incidents including two innocent people," he said. | |
| Hundreds of police fanned out across Urumqi earlier | |
| Mr Zhang gave no further explanation of how the people were killed. | Mr Zhang gave no further explanation of how the people were killed. |
| Meanwhile, Beijing has sent its top security official, Meng Jianzhu, to Urumqi. | Meanwhile, Beijing has sent its top security official, Meng Jianzhu, to Urumqi. |
| On his arrival he was quoted by state-run news agency Xinhua as saying the syringe attacks were a continuation of the July unrest. | |
| He said the attacks were instigated by ethnic separatist forces seeking to undermine ethnic unity and urged local officials "to restore social order as soon as possible". | He said the attacks were instigated by ethnic separatist forces seeking to undermine ethnic unity and urged local officials "to restore social order as soon as possible". |
| But analysts say Mr Meng's visit reflects Beijing's desire to take control of the situation - and suggests the central government no longer trusts local officials. | But analysts say Mr Meng's visit reflects Beijing's desire to take control of the situation - and suggests the central government no longer trusts local officials. |
| 'All marches banned' | |
| The BBC's Michael Bristow, in Urumqi, says hundreds of police fanned out across the city on Friday, breaking up angry crowds gathering at road junctions. | |
| Tear gas was fired to disperse one group of protesters and there were scuffles at a crossroads as police moved in to arrest several demonstrators. | |
| Xinhua reported that the authorities had banned "all gatherings, marches or protests on roads or other public venues". | |
| The crowds demanded more protection amid media reporters saying more than 500 people, almost all Han, have sought treatment for stabbings in the past few weeks. | |
| There is also anger over what many perceive as official slowness in punishing suspects charged over July's riots. | |
| Tension between Xinjiang's Uighur and Han communities has been simmering for many years, but July's ethnic unrest was the worst in China for decades. | |
| It began when crowds of Uighurs took the streets to protest about mistreatment - but their rally spiralled out of control and days of violent clashes followed. | |
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