China: UN Human Rights Chief alarmed by "high loss of life"

United Nations, New York, 7 July 2009 - Noon briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. The top United Nations human rights official today expressed her alarm at the high number of casualties sustained during this weekends rioting in Urumqi, the capital of Chinas Xinjiang Autonomous Region, calling on all people to show restraint in the wake of the major tragedy. According to figures announced by the Government yesterday, over 150 people have been killed and 800 others injured during the clashes on Sunday. This is an extraordinarily high number of people to be killed and injured in less than a day of rioting, said Navi Pillay, High Commissioner for Human Rights. Statement by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pa... News story: http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp...