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| Leaders axed after China rioting | Leaders axed after China rioting |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Communist Party leader and police chief in the troubled western Chinese region of Xinjiang have been sacked, the official Xinhua news agency says. | A Communist Party leader and police chief in the troubled western Chinese region of Xinjiang have been sacked, the official Xinhua news agency says. |
| The moves follow days of ethnic unrest in the regional capital Urumqi in which at least five people have died. | The moves follow days of ethnic unrest in the regional capital Urumqi in which at least five people have died. |
| No official reason has been given for the sackings. | No official reason has been given for the sackings. |
| Mass protests have followed a spate of stabbings with syringes blamed on Uighur Muslim separatists. Unrest in Urumqi in July left nearly 200 dead. | |
| Xinhua first announced that Urumqi Communist Party chief Li Zhi was to be replaced by Zhu Hailun, the head of Xinjiang region's law-and-order committee. | Xinhua first announced that Urumqi Communist Party chief Li Zhi was to be replaced by Zhu Hailun, the head of Xinjiang region's law-and-order committee. |
| A later statement added that Liu Yaohua, director of the Xinjiang Autonomous Regional Public Security Department, had also been dismissed. | A later statement added that Liu Yaohua, director of the Xinjiang Autonomous Regional Public Security Department, had also been dismissed. |
| Correspondents say that protesters who have marched in their thousands through Urumqi in recent days have demanded Mr Li's dismissal for failing to provide public safety. | Correspondents say that protesters who have marched in their thousands through Urumqi in recent days have demanded Mr Li's dismissal for failing to provide public safety. |
| The BBC's Michael Bristow in Urumqi says the sacking is unusual as it shows the Chinese authorities believe they may have made mistakes in the handling of the unrest. | The BBC's Michael Bristow in Urumqi says the sacking is unusual as it shows the Chinese authorities believe they may have made mistakes in the handling of the unrest. |
| Tight security | Tight security |
| Security in Urumqi has been tight this week, after thousands of Han Chinese demonstrated over the alleged hypodermic syringe stabbings. | Security in Urumqi has been tight this week, after thousands of Han Chinese demonstrated over the alleged hypodermic syringe stabbings. |
| In fresh unrest on Saturday, angry Han Chinese rushed to the city's main square following reports that three Uighur men had attacked a child with needles. | In fresh unrest on Saturday, angry Han Chinese rushed to the city's main square following reports that three Uighur men had attacked a child with needles. |
| Police took away a boy allegedly stabbed with a needle in Urumqi on Saturday | Police took away a boy allegedly stabbed with a needle in Urumqi on Saturday |
| Video of the incident showed police driving the boy away and the crowd being dispersed. | Video of the incident showed police driving the boy away and the crowd being dispersed. |
| China's top security official, Meng Jianzhu, arrived in the city on Friday to try to restore order. | China's top security official, Meng Jianzhu, arrived in the city on Friday to try to restore order. |
| He was quoted by Xinhua as saying the syringe attacks were a continuation of the July unrest in which 200 people - mostly Han Chinese - were killed in ethnic riots. | He was quoted by Xinhua as saying the syringe attacks were a continuation of the July unrest in which 200 people - mostly Han Chinese - were killed in ethnic riots. |
| Xinjiang's population is evenly split between Uighurs and Han Chinese - the country's majority ethnic group. But Hans make up three-quarters of Urumqi's population. | Xinjiang's population is evenly split between Uighurs and Han Chinese - the country's majority ethnic group. But Hans make up three-quarters of Urumqi's population. |
| Tension between the Uighur and Han communities has been simmering for many years, but July's ethnic unrest was the worst for decades. | Tension between the Uighur and Han communities has been simmering for many years, but July's ethnic unrest was the worst 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. | 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. |
| Are you in Urumqi? Have you witnessed or heard of the unrest? Send us your experiences using the form below. | Are you in Urumqi? Have you witnessed or heard of the unrest? Send us your experiences using the form below. |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box 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 |