Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com). Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it exclusively produces is in the public domain. July 12, 2009 Japanese Protest Violence in Western China ------------------------------------------ http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=254A6AF:A6F02AD83191E160AD5E2ED6664E5DD1B3350E090FE6A6E8& More than 500 people call for an end to the violence in China's Xinjiang province Hundreds of supporters of China's ethnic minority Uighurs have rallied in Japan, as Beijing raised the number of injuries from last week's ethnic clashes in western China. Uighur protester shouts a slogan against China's crackdown in Xinjiang, during a demonstration in Tokyo, Japan, 12 Jul 2009More than 500 people, including several Uighurs, joined the march through Tokyo Sunday. They called for an end to the violence in China's Xinjiang province. China's official Xinhua news agency reported Sunday that the injury count from the unrest has jumped to 1,680, from 1,080. Authorities say the death toll from last week's clashes between Uighur Muslims and Han Chinese still stands at 184 people. Officials say 137 of the victims were Han, but Uighurs say many more of their people died than is being reported. Clerics in Iran condemned Beijing on Sunday for its treatment of the Muslims in Xinjiang. Iran is a close ally of China. But Grand Ayatollah Makarem-Shirazi said this should not keep Tehran quiet about what he called the "brutal suppression" of its Muslim brothers and sisters. Uighurs are mostly Muslim, Turkic-speaking people who make up nearly half of Xinjiang's population of 20 million. They have complained for years of religious and cultural persecution, and say an influx of Han Chinese in the area is taking away their economic opportunities. Chinese officials have blamed the violence in Xinjiang on what they call separatist and terrorist groups. The Uighurs say the unrest erupted when authorities provoked a peaceful demonstration, turning it into a riot. Chinese armored personnel carriers and trucks loaded with riot police are patrolling Xinjiang's capital, Urumqi, to maintain order. Some residents say they are afraid to leave their homes. Officials say nearly 1,500 people have been arrested. Separately, Chinese media say an oil tank exploded Sunday morning at a chemical plant in Urumqi. Xinhua says no casualties have been reported.Â!   It did not give a reason for the blast. Some information for this rep ort was provided by AFP and AP. .