Posted: 6/18/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Robert F. Bukaty, The Associated Press Abudu Xukur, a champion boxer, begins the Olympic Torch Relay on Tuesday in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China's most western province. The torch started its relay route Tuesday through the restive region of Xinjiang amid cheering crowds and heavy security.

KASHGAR, China - Tight security surrounded the Olympic flame Tuesday as it began its journey through China's restive Muslim western region of Xinjiang.

Security agents jogged on either side of torchbearers and hundreds of police and military watched subdued crowds as the flame wound its way through Xinjiang's capital of Urumqi. Although state media has warned of the threat from separatists they claim are linked with global terrorism, no disruptions were reported.

On Wednesday, the flame travels to the ancient Silk Road city of Kashgar, where, unlike in Urumqi, immigrants from China's dominant Han ethnic group are a minority.

On Tuesday night, Kashgar's streets were largely empty. Some streets had been closed and shops along the relay route locked up early.

The Olympic flame has had a smooth run in China, undisturbed by protests over Tibet and human rights that hounded parts of its international tour. Yet the routes in Xinjiang and Tibet are the most sensitive, a fact underscored by the precautions. The dates for the Tibet relay have not been announced.

In Kashgar, near the border with Central Asia, Afghanistan and Pakistan, the relay will start in a square dominated by a giant statue of Mao Zedong, a reminder of heavy handed Communist Party rule over the region since People's Liberation Army forces entered in 1949.

Unarmed militia were deployed overnight along the torch route, which was lined with Olympic banners.

"We're here to provide security," one militia member stationed with four others at an underpass said in halting Chinese. "We will be here all night." He refused to give his name, saying only "that's not good" when asked why.

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