Chinese state media say 37 civilians killed in Xinjiang province by ethnic Uighur militants last week.

Chinese military forces patrolling in front of the mosque of Kashgar, Xinjiang. 

Chinese state media say 37 civilians killed in Xinjiang province by ethnic Uighur militants last week.

The violent incident occurred on 28 July, but this is the first time the death toll reported by the Xinhua news agency.

Xinhua said 215 people armed with knives and axes, attackers have been arrested after they stormed a police station and government offices.
But Uighur rights group said police had opened fire on people protesting Muslims during Ramadan last.

At that time, Xinhua reported incident in the city Elixku and Huangdi as a "terror attack" and said police had shot and killed the attacker.
It said 30 vehicles belonging to the police had been tampered with and "dozens" of civilians Uighurs and Han Chinese residents were killed or injured.

"This is a serious incident which has links with terrorist organizations in the country and abroad. They organized, premeditated," the government statement Xinjiang, which is uploaded on the official website on Sunday (03/08).
denied the allegations

Uighur activist group based in the United States, the Uyghur American Association (UAA), said that, based on their sources in the region, civilians shot Uighur Chinese officials when they protest.

UAA said the protest was made ​​to the act of "Chinese security forces acting outside the legal aspects" during Ramadan.

So far there has been no independent party which can be confirmed against violence claim these two parties.

Tensions between Uighurs with Han Chinese immigrants grew in recent years. This occurred partly backed opposition Uighurs against Chinese rule in Xinjiang presence.

China said the increase in violence in Xinjiang can not be separated from the group demands secession from Uighur. Chinese authorities responded by Click improve security operations in the region.

Wednesday, Click imam in the city of Kashgar in Xinjiang, was killed after reportedly being stabbed after morning prayers.

Jume Tahir, 74, has been appointed by the Communist Party of China as a priest in the Id Kah mosque is about 600 years old.

Some people say he is not liked by some Uighurs because it supports the government's policy, which is sometimes presented also in the sermon. BBC