Uighur leader who now lives in suburban Washington denies inciting fatal riots in China

October 9th, 2009 China: Death for man in brawl linked to riotsBEIJING — A Chinese court sentenced a man to death Saturday for his role in a toy factory brawl that sparked riots in western Xinjiang region that left almost 200 dead in China's worst ethnic violence in decades. Another man was given life imprisonment for the June 26 brawl at a toy factory in southern Guangdong province that pitted workers from the Uighur minority group against Han Chinese, who make up most of China's population.

September 25th, 2009 China charges 21 with murder in July riotsBEIJING — Chinese prosecutors brought murder and arson charges Friday against 21 people arrested in connection with riots in July that left nearly 200 dead in Urumqi. The riots in the capital of the western region of Xinjiang saw Muslim Uighurs attack members of the country's dominant Han ethnic group, followed two days later by Han attacks on Uighurs.

September 11th, 2009 Uighur activist urges world to pressure ChinaPRAGUE — An exiled Uighur activist accused China on Friday of destroying the cultures of the country's minorities and urged democratic nations to force China to change its policies on minorities. Despite protests from China, activist Rebiya Kadeer spoke before the "Peace, Democracy and Human Rights in Asia" conference organized by the Forum 2000 Foundation established by former Czech President Vaclav Havel.

September 10th, 2009 China protests Dalai Lama, Uighur speechesPRAGUE — China on Thursday protested planned speeches by the Dalai Lama and exiled Uighur activist Rebiya Kadeer before a Prague conference on human rights in Asia. Kadeer and the Dalai Lama are part of Friday's "Peace, Democracy and Human Rights in Asia" conference organized by the Forum 2000 Foundation established by former Czech President Vaclav Havel.

July 30th, 2009 China issues most-wanted list for Xinjiang riotsBEIJING — China released a most-wanted list Thursday of 15 people it is seeking for their alleged roles in the worst ethnic violence to hit the country in decades. The government says 197 people died and more than 1,700 were wounded in the riots that broke out earlier this month in the western region of Xinjiang between minority Muslim Uighurs and majority Han Chinese.

July 30th, 2009 China dismisses Uighur claim 10,000 are missingBEIJING — China dismissed an exiled activist's claim that 10,000 minority Uighurs disappeared during a recent crackdown after ethnic riots erupted in its far west, calling the figure "completely fabricated" on Thursday. The government has repeatedly said the riots in the Xinjiang capital of Urumqi were orchestrated by separatist Uighur groups.

July 29th, 2009 China complains to Australia about Uighur's visitCANBERRA, Australia — China has repeatedly complained to the Australian government about the planned visit to a Melbourne film festival of the Uighur activist Beijing accuses of inciting ethnic riots in its far west, an official said Wednesday. Rebiya Kadeer — who lives in exile in the United States — will attend the Melbourne International Film Festival on Aug.

July 29th, 2009 China welcomes 'moderate' US response to riotsWASHINGTON — A Chinese diplomat voiced appreciation Tuesday for what he called the "moderate attitude" of the U.S. toward the ethnic clashes in China's oil-rich Xinjiang region that killed nearly 200 people.

July 27th, 2009 China unhappy with Uighur activist's Japan tripBEIJING — China's Foreign Ministry criticized Japan on Monday for allowing a visit this week by an exiled Uighur activist whom Beijing blames for deadly ethnic riots in western China. The Chinese government "expresses strong dissatisfaction" with the Japanese government for allowing Rebiya Kadeer to visit Wednesday and Thursday despite Beijing's "repeated and serious representations," ministry spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement.

July 21st, 2009 BEIJING — China on Tuesday defended its policies on ethnic minorities, saying the violence in Xinjiang that killed nearly 200 people this month was triggered by separatists and not its treatment of Uighurs. During a televised news conference, the vice minister of the State Ethnic Affairs Commission blamed an underground separatist movement of Muslim, Turkic-speaking Uighurs and said China will never tolerate secession in its far western region.

July 15th, 2009 China warns of reprisals in Algeria after unrestURUMQI, China — China's embassy in Algeria has warned Chinese companies and workers to be on guard for attacks after an Islamist Web site called for retaliation for Beijing's response to unrest in its predominantly Muslim western province. A notice posted late Tuesday on the embassy's Web site follows a torrent of ethnic clashes this month that left at least 184 dead in Xinjiang's capital of Urumqi.

July 8th, 2009 Uighur protesters march in DC to China's embassyWASHINGTON — An exiled Uighur leader accused by China of inciting ethnic violence said Tuesday the Chinese government is responsible for the rising tensions. Rebiya Kadeer, president of the Uyghur American Association, said during a rally in downtown Washington that peaceful Uighur demonstrators have been targeted in China as part of the government's ongoing repression in the region.

July 7th, 2009 Clinton urges restraint in riots in western ChinaWASHINGTON — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is urging restraint in clashes in western China. Clinton told reporters Tuesday that the United States is "deeply concerned" about worsening ethnic violence in China's oil-rich Xinjiang territory.

July 7th, 2009 Uighur supporters in US blame China for riotsWASHINGTON — An exiled Uighur (WEE-gur) leader is blaming the Chinese government for the rising tensions and ethnic violence in China. Rebiya (ruh-BEE-yuh) Kadeer (kuh-DEER) spoke to Uighur supporters at a rally in downtown Washington on Tuesday.

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.