Chaos was seen in a number of places in Urumqi on Tuesday afternoon, nearly two days after a riot that killed 156 people.

With clubs and knives, several thousands of protesters marched along the Youhao Street and Guangming Street toward Erdaoqiao Road in downtown Urumqi Tuesday afternoon. The protesters, mostly Han Chinese, were shouting "protecting our home, protect our family members".

Police armed with guns and shields guarded intersections.

A Xinhua reporter saw a police officer crying while he followed the march.

Many of the protesters gathered at the Urumqi South Railway Station, Changjiang Road, Yangzijiang Road and some other places. People ran in panic and roadside shops were shut down.

Residents of some community compounds were holding bats for self-defense.

"We will not hide up anymore. We will fight back if they (the rioters) come," said a man standing in front of a building in Shihezi.

Crowds of people rushed to the municipal people's hospital to take shelter. Many nurses were trying to call their relatives to make sure they are safe.

An adult who was coughing up blood and a young man whose head was covered in blood were rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.

The regional hospital of traditional Chinese medicine received about three Han Chinese with fresh wounds on their bodies in the afternoon, the president of the hospital told Xinhua.

Witnesses said a group of people gathering around an outlet of the Quanjude roast duck restaurant at Changjiang Road were beating a man at about 2:00 PM.

Police managed to stop the attack and rescued the man.

Someone drove a car into a police wagon during a standoff with police at Tuanjie Road at about 1:30 PM. Police have arrested a number of people. The number of arrests in the latest outburst is unknown at this time.

(Xinhua News Agency July 7, 2009)