China - Xinjiang violence

Police shoot two dead in Urumqi

Article published on the 2009-07-13 Latest update 2009-07-13 15:39 TU

Armed Chinese soldiers in riot gear march along a main street in the city of Urumqi
(Photo: Reuters)

Chinese police shot dead two Uighurs in Urumqi, in Xinjiang province on Monday as violence continues despite a massive security crackdown. A third man is reported to have been injured.

The shooting took place in a Muslim Uighur district of the city, which has seen sectarian violence between Uighurs and Han and Hui Chinese. Armed riot police immediately flooded the area, closing shops.

"Police shot and killed two suspected lawbreakers and injured one suspected lawbreaker using legal means," said a government statement. It said the three were trying to attack another Uighur.

But two Uighur witnesses say that the men attacked security forces.

"They hacked at the soldiers with big knives and then they were shot," said one of the witnesses.

This is the first time that the government has announced that security forces have killed anyone during the unrest.