[asia-apec 1836] McDonalds in China blown up

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Blast at McDonald's in China kills one - witnesses
Saturday December 15, 10:43 AM EST

BEIJING, Dec 15 (Reuters) - An explosion at a crowded McDonald's restaurant in the centre of China's western city of Xi'an killed one person and injured more than 20 on Saturday, witnesses said.

Police blocked off two major streets in the centre of the city after the explosion, which took place during the busy dinner hour, they said. City officials reached by Reuters declined to comment.

Officials told local journalists they suspected the blast was set deliberately by the person killed in the explosion.

Xi'an is home to a sizeable ethnic Uighur Muslim population. Uighur separatists have been responsible for a series of bombings in western China, but it was not immediately known if they played any role in this explosion. The ancient city of Xi'an, a former imperial capital, is near the site of the famed terracotta warriors, a major tourist attraction.

The incident follows two series of explosions in the southern province of Guangdong on Friday.

©2001 Reuters Limited.