Mosques closed in Urumqi: Chinese official

September 10th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Chinese officials in Urumqi have termed the recent syringe attacks as "terror attacks". "They aimed to unsettle the city's atmosphere," said Yan Yuxing, former president of Urumqi Municipal Intermediate People's Court.

August 10th, 2009 KABUL - A plane flying from Afghanistan to Urumqi, the capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, was refused permission to land after it was reported that there was a bomb onboard. The official Xinhua news agency quoted armed police sources as saying on Monday that Urumqi airport had received an order from the aviation authorities to deny the plane's landing in the city.

July 11th, 2009 URUMQI - The death toll in the riots in China's Urumqi city has risen to 184, authorities said Saturday. The dead comprise 137 people from the Han community, including 26 women.

July 10th, 2009 URUMQI, China — Boisterous crowds in this riot-hit western China city turned up at mosques despite announcements that Friday prayers were canceled due to the recent ethnic violence, forcing officials to let them in. Some of the mosques were in areas of Urumqi that saw street fighting earlier this week, after angry demonstrations by minority Muslim Uighurs sparked a crackdown by security forces and clashes with the Han Chinese majority that left at least 156 dead.

July 10th, 2009 DUBAI - Friday prayers were cancelled in China's Urumqi city where riots have left at least 156 people dead and over 1,000 injured, a media report said. "Chinese authorities have cancelled Friday Muslim prayers in Urumqi amid security concerns as troops try to keep control following days of deadly unrest in the city," Al Jazeera reported Friday.

July 10th, 2009 Mosques told to suspend prayers after China unrestURUMQI, China — Mosques in riot-hit Urumqi were ordered to stay closed for Friday prayers in the wake of ethnic violence that has killed at least 156 people, an official said. The prayers after midday are a focal point of the week for the minority Muslim Uighurs in Urumqi, and Chinese authorities took the rare step of restricting them in apparent attempts to deter any large, emotional gatherings at the mosques.

July 10th, 2009 URUMQI - Some mosques in Xinjiang's restive capital Urumqi were closed Friday, even as Muslims were being persuaded to attend their weekly congregational prayer at home following Sunday's deadly riot that killed at least 156 people. According to the official Xinhua news agency, all five major mosques near the Southern Jiefang Road, the center of the Sunday violence, were closed on Friday morning.

July 10th, 2009 Some Urumqi mosques open for Friday prayersURUMQI, China — Several mosques in riot-hit Urumqi opened for Friday prayers, despite notices posted earlier saying they would be closed in the wake of ethnic violence that left 156 dead. It was not immediately clear if there was a change of policy or if the mosques were opened because crowds gathered outside them.

July 10th, 2009 As crowds gather, Urumqi mosques open for prayersURUMQI, China — Several mosques in riot-hit Urumqi opened for Friday prayers after boisterous crowds gathered outside, despite notices posted earlier saying they would be closed in the wake of ethnic violence that left 156 dead. It was not immediately clear if there was a change of policy or if the mosques were opened to meet the demand of the crowds.

July 9th, 2009 URUMQI - A senior official has warned that China will execute anyone found to be behind the 156 riot killings in the north west city of Urumqi. Sky News quoted Li Zhi, the Communist Party boss of Urumqi, as saying that the government would seek the death penalty over bloody protests in the capital of Xinjiang.

July 8th, 2009 URUMQI - Riot-hit Chinese city Urumqi appeared calm under heavy paramilitary police presence Wednesday after an overnight traffic curfew, though sporadic violence was still reported. Traffic restrictions continued to be imposed in some major streets Wednesday, with members of the Armed Police patrolling.

July 7th, 2009 BEIJING - Several hundred Uighurs staged a protest Tuesday as Chinese officials took a group of foreign journalists on a tour of Urumqi, the riot-hit capital of the far western region of Xinjiang. The protesters sat down after they were blocked by riot police, reporters in Urumqi said.

July 7th, 2009 Curfew declared in restive Chinese regionURUMQI, China — Chinese state media say that the government in the restive western region of Xinjiang has declared a curfew following the violence of recent days that has killed at least 156 people and paralyzed the main city of Urumqi. The official Xinhua News Agency said Tuesday that the curfew from 9 p.m.

July 7th, 2009 URUMQI - Internet connectivity was cut in parts of Xinjiang's capital Urumqi following Sunday's riot to prevent violence from spreading, an official said Tuesday. "We cut Internet connection in some areas of Urumqi in order to prevent violence from spreading to other places," said Li Zhi, the Communist Party of China (CPC) chief of Urumqi.

July 7th, 2009 URUMQI - The death toll from riots in the western Chinese cities of Urumqi and Kashgar has risen to 156. The official Xinhua news agency quoted senior government officials as saying that Beijing would take firm steps to bring the troubled desert province of Xinjiang under control.