Xinjiang riots

BEIJING, Nov. 9 (UPI) -- Nine people were executed Monday after being convicted of crimes during riots last summer in western China.

Hundreds of people were arrested during the unrest that centered on Urumqi in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region where local Uighurs said ethnic Han had been relocated to displace the mostly Muslim Uighurs.

Isolated incidents between Uighurs and Han escalated into riots in July with about 200 deaths officially blamed on the unrest. Unofficial counts were much higher. Property damage was also extensive.

Only government military intervention stopped the violence.

The nine executed Monday were said to have been found guilty of murder and other crimes during the riots. Most of those condemned to death were Uighurs.