【CNN 09.9.14】Official: No chemicals, infections in China syringe attacks

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Official: No chemicals, infections in China syringe attacks

BEIJING, China (CNN) -- No dangerous viruses or chemicals werefound in the samples from a series of syringe stabbings that recentlytriggered unrest in China's western city of Urumqi, state-run mediareported Sunday.


Chinese troops patrol the streets of Urumqi.

China's Academy of Military Medical Sciences found that none weretainted with radioactive substances, toxic chemicals or the AIDS virus,Qian Jun, head of the academy's disease control and biological securityoffice, told reporters, according to China's Xinhua news agency.

No illnesses or infections have been found in needle attack victims, Qian said, citing medical experts.

The syringe attacks began August 17, a month after long-simmeringresentment between minority Uyghurs and majority Han Chinese eruptedinto riots and left more than 200 people dead.

Authorities have confirmed more than 530 victims of the attacks in Urumqi, Xinhua reported. Most victims were Han Chinese.

Also on Sunday, more than 600 people took part in a demonstrationby the Hong Kong Journalists Association and Foreign Correspondents'Club. The march for press freedom in Hong Kong was called to protestthe beatings of three journalists from that city while covering theattacks and the unrest in Urumqi.

Xinjiang provincial authorities blamed the journalists for inciting the unrest and bringing the violence on themselves.


The journalists' group called for an investigation into thebeatings, a stop to "all suppressive actions against the media," inline with China's constitutional guarantee of press freedom.

China has struggled to maintain stability and order in its far west.

   On Saturday, three people were sentenced to up to 15 years in prison in connection with the stabbings in Urumqi.

Uyghurs are accused of using hypodermic needles to stab hundreds ofpeople from several ethnic groups, including Han Chinese. Many victimshad to be hospitalized, authorities said.

Police had promised harsh punishment for whoever was convicted inthe stabbings -- life imprisonment or the death penalty, governmentofficials said.

     The Han Chinese are the country's dominant ethnic group. The Uyghurs are a Turkic-speaking Muslim minority who consider Xinjiang their homeland.

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