China’s government confirmed media reports of a recent protest by Muslim Uighurs in the far western region of Xinjiang, AP reported. However, the government denied that the protests in the city of Hotan were prompted by a ban on the wearing of head scarves. A Hotan official was quoted as saying that the protests had "nothing to do with the ban on head scarves, but about responding to the riots in Tibet." China has strengthened its police presence in Tibet and other areas to contain unrest following riots in Lhasa that began on March 14. Previously, China said it foiled a hijacking attempt on a passenger jet flying between Urumqi and Beijing.
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