Death toll in Xinjiang rises to 156

The death toll in the riots in Xinjiang has risen to 156, with an additional 800 people injured, state media reported. Li Yi, head of the public relations department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Xinjiang regional committee, said early Tuesday morning that the dead include 129 men and 27 women. No figures were given regarding police casualties. Original reports stated singificantly lower numbers. Local police officials say that rioters burned 261 vehicles – mostly public buses, taxis and police cars. Concerned by reports that unrest was being "organized" in other cities in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, police officers are raiding groups in Kashi, Yili Kalak prefecture and Aksu. They also dispersed a 200-strong gathering in front of a mosque in Kashi. Police have already detained 700 people in connection with the riots, and are searching for 90 more suspects.