Editor's note: Ismail Tiliwaldi, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of National People's Congress and ex-chairman of Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region (2003-07), was recently interviewed by a group of foreign journalists in Beijing. The following are excerpts from the interview, reported by Xinhua News Agency.

What occurred in Urumqi on July 5 was tragic and traumatic for residents of all ethnic backgrounds in Xinjiang. There are enough facts to prove that the incident is a serious violent crime directed and incited from abroad, and executed inside the country by the separatists, extremists and terrorists, or the "three forces".

The brawl between Han and Uygur workers in a toy factory in Shaoguan, Guangdong province on June 26 was a public order incident, which was properly handled. However, the "three forces" abroad took advantage of it as an opportunity to foment unrest.