Turkey following Uighur riots closely

"The situation remains tense as the incidents are ongoing," diplomatic sources told Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review. The number of Turks settled in the troubled region is rather low and no information has been received so far that concerned the safety of Turkish citizens, said diplomatic sources. The Anatolia news agency reported that Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu was constantly briefing the prime minister about the developments.

Upon instructions from Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan, Foreign Ministry officials worked overtime Monday night, according to Anatolia. It reported that the officials sought to find solution to the incidents.

In response to questions about Uighur Turks, President Abdullah Gül said then: "Uighur Turks are of course citizens of China. But they are acting as a bridge to improve ties with Turkey. We’re coming from the same roots as the Uighur Turks and believe in the same religion. Nobody, including the Chinese administration, denies this."
 
Opposition Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP, leader Devlet Bahçeli criticized the government’s approach and argued not summoning the Chinese ambassador to Ankara to the Foreign Ministry in a show of protest was "negligence." In a written statement, Bahçeli claimed that the attacks targeting the Uighur Turks reached dimensions of ethnic massacre, while raising concerns over the increasing loss of lives.

Protest in Ankara
Uighur protesters briefly scuffled with police during a protest Tuesday outside the Chinese Embassy in Turkey.

Several hundred Uighur and Turkish demonstrators were rallying outside the embassy Tuesday and denouncing the riots. A group of protesters tried to break through a line of Turkish police in riot gear to approach the embassy, leading to brief scuffles with police. There were no injuries. Demonstrators hurled eggs at the embassy building and held up banners calling for an end to what they called Chinese aggression against Uighurs.