The protest in several cities of China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on March 22 was confirmed to be an organized move launched by Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami (Islamic Party of Liberation), China News Service reported today.

From March 22 to 23, the radical Islamic political movement incited people to protest on streets in Urumqi, Xinjiang's capital, as well as in Khotan Prefecture, Kashgar Prefecture and Kizilsu Kirgiz Autonomous Prefecture and put up and spread slogans and leaflets.

From 2:50 pm to 4:15 pm on March 23, Xinjiang government officials curbed three protests plotted by the movement, the news report said.

Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami (Islamic Party of Liberation) is a radical Islamic political movement that seeks "implementation of pure Islamic doctrine" and the creation of an Islamic caliphate in Central Asia. As a terrorist group considered by many countries around the world, it is illegal in China, authorities have said.

(Shanghai Daily April 5, 2008)