Chinese ban transport of explosives in Urumqi

By HENRY SANDERSON, Associated Press Writer

BEIJING – Chinese police on Tuesday banned explosives and weapons from being transported in the western region of Xinjiang, the scene of deadly ethnic rioting this summer and a spate of mysterious syringe attacks.

The Xinjiang Public Security Ministry said transport of weapons, ammunition, explosives and radioactive goods into or within Xinjiang would be suspended from Sept. 25 to Oct. 8.

The ministry did not give a reason, but the dates cover the 60th anniversary of Communist rule in China on Oct. 1 and the holiday period afterward. The ruling party has launched a nationwide security clampdown aimed at making the anniversary pass smoothly.

The notice comes as schools reopened this week in the Xinjiang's regional capital Urumqi. They were closed for 10 days after traffic controls were imposed following massive street protests earlier this month by frightened residents demanding better security.

All primary and middle school classes resumed Monday, the official Xinhua News Agency said. Concerns about the spread of swine flu had also been given as a reason behind the closures, and Xinhua said students would have their temperatures checked daily.

Urumqi has been on edge since riots in July left nearly 200 dead in violence between Han Chinese and Uighurs, a minority Muslim ethnic group that is native to Xinjiang. The violence started when a group of Uighurs gathered in Urumqi to protest the deaths of two fellow Uighurs at a factory in southern China.

The needle attacks began Aug. 20 and apparently ended earlier this month. Authorities blame the July violence and the needle attacks on people trying to split Xinjiang from China, but have not publicized evidence to support that allegation.

More than 500 people complained of being randomly stabbed by hypodermic needles, but only 171 people showed evidence of being pricked, and tests of samples from victims found no evidence of transmitted infections, Xinhua said.

Qian Jun of the Academy of Military Medical Sciences said there was no evidence that any of the syringes used in the attacks were contaminated. About 250 victims have been checked and found to have no wounds or illnesses.

On Saturday, the Intermediate People's Court in Urumqi sentenced three people — all ethnic Uighurs — to up to 15 years in prison in the first trials over the attacks. One person was sentenced for stabbing a woman and the other two for using a syringe to rob a taxi driver.

Uighurs are culturally distinct from China's majority Han group who dominate life in Urumqi and positions of power, despite the fact that Uighurs make up the majority of the population in the wider region of Xinjiang.

Authorities are also looking for dozens of people allegedly involved in the July riot. The China Daily newspaper said Tuesday 825 suspects have been detained and 196 have formally been arrested for their alleged role in the riots.