Anger as riot city’s mosques stay closed

Mosques in the riot-hit Chinese city of Urumqi were ordered to stay closed for Friday prayers in the wake of ethnic violence in Xinjiang province that has left more than 150 people dead.

The move angered minority Muslim Uighurs, who clashed with police and local Han Chinese earlier this week.

The clampdown in the western province was ordered by Chinese officials, and came as journalists and foreigners in a second city, Kashgar, were ordered to leave.

Meanwhile hundreds of people were hurt and thousands of homes damaged by a 6.0 magnitude earthquake in China's south-west region.

Yesterday's quake struck in Guantun town, in the mountains of Yunnan province. More than 300 people were injured and some killed, and about 10,000 homes collapsed.

The area has suffered earthquakes and aftershocks since an 8.0 quake in neighbouring Sichuan in May last year killed about 80,000 people.