Finger-pointing over fatal clash

Xinjiang authorities said Monday's attack on a police station in Hotan that killed four people was an act of terrorism, but overseas Uygur groups alleged that police opened fire on peaceful protesters, killing at least 20.

'The attack was violent, of a terroristic nature, organised and premeditated,' Hou Hanmin, director of the government's news office in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, told the South China Morning Post yesterday.

The incident was briefly reported on Monday by state-run Xinhua news agency, which said a gang of 'thugs' attacked the police station around noon, taking hostages and setting fires. According to the report, police had the situation under control by about 1.30pm, having shot dead an unidentified number of 'thugs' and rescued six hostages. The four said to have been killed were a paramilitary police officer, a police assistant and two other hostages.

Also on Monday, the People's Daily said on its Xinjiang news website that 14 'thugs' were shot dead, but this report could not be found on mainland news portals yesterday.

Hou refused to confirm the number of casualties, but provided more information on the attack yesterday. She said the attackers first went for the city's Industrial and Commerce Office, injuring two people there, then charged into the police station next door, where they stabbed the police assistant stationed at the entrance before setting fires inside with explosives and petrol bombs.

They also waved black flags that bore white Arabic script, which were the flags of jihad, or holy war, Hou said.

She said the authorities would release more information soon.