NEW : Chinese authorities have made dozens of arrests following a deadly clash between Han Chinese and ethnic Uighurs in the country 's remote northwest , a U.S.-based Uighur leader said Wednesday . The World Muslim Congress says 16 people died in Tuesday 's violence . China 's Xinhua news agency put the death toll at 12 , including two killed by police . Beijing has blamed militants of Uighur descent for outbreaks of violence in Xinjiang in recent years . They are ethnic Turks distinct from China 's majority Han population .
NEW : The World Muslim Congress says 16 people died in Tuesday 's violence . China 's Xinhua news agency put the death toll at 12 , including two killed by police . Beijing has blamed militants of Uighur descent for outbreaks of violence in Xinjiang in recent years . They are ethnic Turks distinct from China 's majority Han population .