Associated Press
Tuesday, July 7, 2009; 5:00 PM
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An exiled Uighur leader accused by China of inciting ethnic violence says the Chinese government is responsible for the rising tensions.
Rebiya Kadeer spoke to Uighur protesters at a rally in downtown Washington on Tuesday. About 100 people are holding blue flags with a white crescent and chanting “Shame on China” as they march to the Chinese Embassy.
Chinese authorities have accused Kadeer of inciting violence between Muslim Uighurs and ethnic Han Chinese, in which at least 156 people have been killed. The riots broke out Sunday in China’s Xinjiang region.
Kadeer disputes the number of fatalities, saying she believes at least 500 people have been killed in the riots.
Kadeer says she’s seeking a stronger statement from the U.S. government about the violence.
Washington Post