Local government officials hold a press conference on the riot that killed 156 people and injured more than 1,000 Sunday in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on July 7 (XINHUA)

Police have arrested 1,434 suspects in connection with the riot Sunday evening in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, according to official sources.

Li Yi, head of the publicity department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Xinjiang regional committee, said early Tuesday morning that the suspects included 1,379 men and 55 women.

"The police have started interrogations with the suspects," said Li.

(Xinhua News Agency July 7, 2009)