ÜRüMqi China

Latest convictions bring to 12 the number of executions ordered over riots in Urumqi....

Chinese authorities on Wednesday announced a higher death toll from ethnic riots in a predominantly Muslim western city, after the government warned its overseas workers in Algeria of possible attacks from Islamists.

Chinese companies and workers in Algeria were warned to be on alert after an Islamist Web site called for retaliation to Beijing's crackdown to quell the unrest in Urumqi.

The unrest began July 5 with a protest by Muslim Uighurs that spiraled into violence against Han Chinese. In subsequent days, roaming groups of Han Chinese men launched revenge attacks. The turmoil represents the worst ethnic violence China has seen in decades.

On Wednesday, the Communist Party in Xinjiang province, of which Urumqi is the capital, said the death toll from the ethnic violence had risen to 192 from 184 reported earlier, according to the Xinhua News Agency. The number of people injured also rose to 1,721 from 1,680.

Xinhua said 881 people remained hospitalized, with 66 in critical condition. A total of 331 shops and 627 vehicle were burned down in the unrest.

 Over 1000 rioters gathered in a large market on Sunday afternoon in Urumqi, the center of Western China, attacking passers-by, setting fire to v...