10 August 2008

More Red China Blues

And now back to breaking news... of the capricious and unknowable "Will of Allah."
-- KUQA, China -- The pre-dawn violence in the restive Muslim region of Xinjiang came despite tightened security for the games and followed threats by an al-Qaida-linked militant Islamic group to disrupt the sporting event.

Sunday's attack and an assault on border police Aug. 4 that left 16 officers dead marked a dramatic increase in violence in the region. Police said "violent terrorists" attacked a shopping center, hotel and government buildings in the city of Kuqa in west central Xinjiang.

Without providing details, the police statement said officers killed eight attackers and another two blew themselves up, while two were arrested. Three attackers were at large, it said.
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