Chinese troops pour into riot-hit Urumqi

Thousands of troops pour into the city of Urumqi in China's Xinjiang province to prevent further ethnic clashes which have killed over 150 people in the volatile region. Columns of riot police wearing helmets and carrying shields lined up on main streets in Urumqi on Wednesday. The massive security arrangements come after at least 156 people were killed and 1,000 more were injured when thousands of Muslim Uighurs and Chinese Han clashed in the provincial capital. Some 1,430 people have been taken into custody by Chinese security forces since the deadly riots began on Sunday. The opposition leaders in exile have accused police of firing rounds to break up peaceful protests staged by Uighur groups. President Hu Jintao has abandoned a Group of Eight summit in Italy to deal with the crisis. The clashes are thought to be the deadliest ethnic unrest to hit the country in decades.