Muslim Minority Riots Erupt in China's West

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Filed at 10:20 p.m. ET

BEIJING (AP) -- Nearly 1,000 protesters from a Muslim ethnic group rioted in China's far west, overturning barricades, attacking bystanders and clashing with police in violence that killed at least three people, including a policeman, state media and witnesses said.

State media initially said at least three ethnic Han Chinese were killed in the violence Sunday, though later reported that an unknown number died, among them an armed policeman. An activist group said one demonstrator may have died.

Protesters, mostly from the Uighur ethnic group, set at least one car on fire, overturned police barriers and attacked buses in several hours of violence that appeared to subside somewhat as police and military presence intensified into the night, according to participants and witnesses.

The official Xinhua News Agency reported that ''the situation was under control'' by Monday morning and that police had shut down traffic in parts of the city as a precaution.

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