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Deadly violence hits west China | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Seven militants and a security guard have been killed after a series of bombings in China's north-western region of Xinjiang, state media says. | |
The pre-dawn violence in southern Kuqa county targeted a police station and other government buildings. | |
The explosions were followed by gunfire in the area, which is 3,000km (1,860 miles) from Beijing, witnesses said. | The explosions were followed by gunfire in the area, which is 3,000km (1,860 miles) from Beijing, witnesses said. |
Earlier this week, China said 16 policemen were killed in an attack by Islamist separatists in Xinjiang. | Earlier this week, China said 16 policemen were killed in an attack by Islamist separatists in Xinjiang. |
"The lawbreakers drove a taxi to the local public security office, industry and business administration and other sites and tossed homemade explosives, destroying two police vehicles," Xinhua news agency reported. | "The lawbreakers drove a taxi to the local public security office, industry and business administration and other sites and tossed homemade explosives, destroying two police vehicles," Xinhua news agency reported. |
Two of the militants died in the attacks, while five were killed later by police, Xinhua news agency reported. | |
Olympics threat | Olympics threat |
World Uighur Congress spokesman Dilxat Raxit told the BBC that the Chinese government was responsible for the latest blasts because of what he called repressive policies in Xinjiang. | World Uighur Congress spokesman Dilxat Raxit told the BBC that the Chinese government was responsible for the latest blasts because of what he called repressive policies in Xinjiang. |
"In order to stop the East Turkestan situation getting worse, I urge the international community to exert pressure on China to immediately stop its systematic repressive government policies," he said. | "In order to stop the East Turkestan situation getting worse, I urge the international community to exert pressure on China to immediately stop its systematic repressive government policies," he said. |
Xinjiang is home to many Muslim Uighurs, some of whom want independence in the region they call East Turkestan. | Xinjiang is home to many Muslim Uighurs, some of whom want independence in the region they call East Turkestan. |
Kuqa county itself is almost exclusively populated by Uighurs. | Kuqa county itself is almost exclusively populated by Uighurs. |
Uighur separatists in Xinjiang have waged a low-level campaign against Chinese rule for decades. | Uighur separatists in Xinjiang have waged a low-level campaign against Chinese rule for decades. |
The latest incident came after the Olympic Games opened in Beijing, with a spectacular display of fireworks, music and dancing. | The latest incident came after the Olympic Games opened in Beijing, with a spectacular display of fireworks, music and dancing. |
Human rights groups say Beijing is suppressing the rights of Uighurs. | Human rights groups say Beijing is suppressing the rights of Uighurs. |
China has spoken in the past of what it calls a terrorist threat from Muslim militants in Xinjiang, but it has provided little evidence to back up its claims, correspondents say. | China has spoken in the past of what it calls a terrorist threat from Muslim militants in Xinjiang, but it has provided little evidence to back up its claims, correspondents say. |