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| US calls for transparent probe over Xinjiang clashes | US calls for transparent probe over Xinjiang clashes |
| (3 days later) | |
| The US has urged China to conduct a transparent investigation after clashes in the restive Xinjiang region left 21 people dead. | The US has urged China to conduct a transparent investigation after clashes in the restive Xinjiang region left 21 people dead. |
| US State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell also urged that "due process protections" be given to all Chinese citizens, including ethnic Uighurs. | US State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell also urged that "due process protections" be given to all Chinese citizens, including ethnic Uighurs. |
| The violence erupted on Tuesday in Bachu county, Kashgar prefecture. | The violence erupted on Tuesday in Bachu county, Kashgar prefecture. |
| China said it was a planned attack by a "violent terrorist group", but an activist group questioned this. | China said it was a planned attack by a "violent terrorist group", but an activist group questioned this. |
| "We urge the Chinese authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation of this incident," Mr Ventrell said. | "We urge the Chinese authorities to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation of this incident," Mr Ventrell said. |
| He asked China to provide Uighurs with all the protections "to which they are entitled not only under Chinese constitutional laws but the international human rights commitments as well". | He asked China to provide Uighurs with all the protections "to which they are entitled not only under Chinese constitutional laws but the international human rights commitments as well". |
| He also called on China to safeguard religious rights. | He also called on China to safeguard religious rights. |
| Xinjiang officials say the clashes erupted after what they described as community workers searched homes for weapons. | Xinjiang officials say the clashes erupted after what they described as community workers searched homes for weapons. |
| Fifteens police and officials were killed, and six suspects. Another eight people were arrested. | Fifteens police and officials were killed, and six suspects. Another eight people were arrested. |
| But a spokesperson for the World Uighur Congress, an umbrella organisation of Uighur groups, said the incident was caused by the killing of a young Uighur by Chinese "armed personnel" as a result of a government clean-up campaign. | But a spokesperson for the World Uighur Congress, an umbrella organisation of Uighur groups, said the incident was caused by the killing of a young Uighur by Chinese "armed personnel" as a result of a government clean-up campaign. |
| The incident come amid rumbling ethnic tensions between the Muslim Uighur and Han Chinese communities. | The incident come amid rumbling ethnic tensions between the Muslim Uighur and Han Chinese communities. |
| Uighurs make up about 45% of the region's population, but say an influx of Han Chinese residents has marginalised their traditional culture. | Uighurs make up about 45% of the region's population, but say an influx of Han Chinese residents has marginalised their traditional culture. |
| In 2009 almost 200 people - mostly Han Chinese - were killed after deadly rioting erupted. | In 2009 almost 200 people - mostly Han Chinese - were killed after deadly rioting erupted. |
| Beijing authorities often blame violent incidents in Xinjiang on Uighur extremists seeking autonomy for the region. Uighur activists, meanwhile, accuse Beijing of over-exaggerating the threat to justify heavy-handed rule. | Beijing authorities often blame violent incidents in Xinjiang on Uighur extremists seeking autonomy for the region. Uighur activists, meanwhile, accuse Beijing of over-exaggerating the threat to justify heavy-handed rule. |
| Verifying reports from Xinjiang is difficult, correspondents say. | Verifying reports from Xinjiang is difficult, correspondents say. |
| Foreign journalists are allowed to travel to the region but frequently face intimidation and harassment when attempting to verify news of ethnic rioting or organised violence against government authorities. | Foreign journalists are allowed to travel to the region but frequently face intimidation and harassment when attempting to verify news of ethnic rioting or organised violence against government authorities. |
| An editorial in state-run China Daily on Thursday stated that there had to be "decisive moves to wipe out terrorist cells in the country". | An editorial in state-run China Daily on Thursday stated that there had to be "decisive moves to wipe out terrorist cells in the country". |
| It added that the Xinjiang incident "is another bloody reminder that terrorist threats remain a clear and present danger in the country's northwestern region". | It added that the Xinjiang incident "is another bloody reminder that terrorist threats remain a clear and present danger in the country's northwestern region". |