China to Issue Arrest Warrants for Xinjiang Riots

A Hui Muslim ethnic minority man sells chicken at his stall in a predominantly Uighur neighborhood...

A Hui Muslim ethnic minority man sells chicken at his stall in a predominantly Uighur neighborhood in Urumqi, China, Thursday, July 16, 2009. Security in Urumqi remained tight as some roads leading to the Grand Bazaar market remained closed, while clusters of security officers stood guard in corners and platoons of paramilitary police patrolled the streets. (AP Photo/Elizabeth Dalziel)

(AP)

Last week, state media reported that more than 1,400 people were detained in connection with the riots.

The fear of arrest was almost palpable in Uighur (pronounced WEE-ger) neighborhoods, unlike last week when many agitated residents were eager to talk to foreign journalists and security forces had allowed photos to be taken as they rumbled into the city on convoys.

But on Thursday, most residents seemed to try to avoid reporters or ignore them. Questions were often answered with one sentence: "I don't know."

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Tensions have long simmered in Xinjiang, a sprawling oil-rich territory three times bigger than France. Uighurs, who number 9 million in Xinjiang, allege an influx of Han Chinese is making jobs more scarce and complain about government restrictions on their Muslim religion.

Han Chinese, many of whom were encouraged to emigrate to Xinjiang by the government, believe Uighurs should be grateful for the region's rapid economic development, which has brought schools, airports and oil wells to the rugged region.

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Associated Press writer Aomar Ouali in Algiers, Algeria, contributed to this report.

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