Riots swept western Muslim regions of China as Uighurs in restive Xinjiang clashed with Han Chinese in bloody battles that resulted in the death of hundreds. In the capital burnt out buildings were smoldering as riot police fought Muslim Uighurs who are tired of Han Chinese entering their homeland and attempting to become the dominant group. Witnesses reported that Uighurs attacked their Han neighbors and left many dead or suffering serious injuries. Police were firing at Uighurs which caused deaths and wounded. The Chinese government, as usual, found someone to blame rather than accept its own responsibility in failing to respect the religion or customs of Uighurs. It said unrest was “masterminded by the World Uighur Congress.”
There are reports Chinese authorities killed Uighurs by firing at them and even sent armored cars into crowds which resulted in other deaths. A Uighur resident told a reporter that “it all started because some Uighurs were killed in Guangdong and people wanted to protest.” Hospitals claim most of the dead and wounded are of Han background although many also are Uighurs.
