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| China warning to syringe stabbers | China warning to syringe stabbers |
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| China has warned anyone found guilty of syringe attacks that led to protests in the western city of Urumqi could face the death penalty, state media reports. | China has warned anyone found guilty of syringe attacks that led to protests in the western city of Urumqi could face the death penalty, state media reports. |
| Harsh punishment would be meted out to those who carried out stabbings with hypodermic needles, the Xinhua news agency said. | Harsh punishment would be meted out to those who carried out stabbings with hypodermic needles, the Xinhua news agency said. |
| Twenty-five people have reportedly been held over the attacks in the capital of north-western Xinjiang region. | |
| Chinese officials have blamed Uighur Muslim separatists for the incidents. | Chinese officials have blamed Uighur Muslim separatists for the incidents. |
| At least five people have died this week in ethnic unrest triggered by the stabbings, with thousands of angry Han Chinese staging daily mass protests. | |
| Heavy security presence | Heavy security presence |
| The Xinhua report, citing a notice from the municipal court, said penalties for those who stabbed others with syringes containing poisonous or harmful substances would range from three years in jail to the death sentence. | The Xinhua report, citing a notice from the municipal court, said penalties for those who stabbed others with syringes containing poisonous or harmful substances would range from three years in jail to the death sentence. |
| Correspondents said Urumqi was calmer on Sunday, although the security presence was still heavy. | Correspondents said Urumqi was calmer on Sunday, although the security presence was still heavy. |
| Riot police have withdrawn from positions around the city and state television showed local officials visiting residents and hearing grievances. | Riot police have withdrawn from positions around the city and state television showed local officials visiting residents and hearing grievances. |
| On Saturday, Urumqi Communist Party leader Li Zhi and Xinjiang provincial police chief Liu Yaohua were both sacked as Beijing sought to bring the crisis under control. | On Saturday, Urumqi Communist Party leader Li Zhi and Xinjiang provincial police chief Liu Yaohua were both sacked as Beijing sought to bring the crisis under control. |
| China's Public Security Minister, Meng Jianzhu, has said the syringe attacks were a continuation of unrest in July in which 200 people - mostly Han Chinese - were killed in ethnic riots. | China's Public Security Minister, Meng Jianzhu, has said the syringe attacks were a continuation of unrest in July 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. |