Syria intends to hand over Uyghur fighters to China

(Patria) - Syrian authorities intend to hand over fighters of the Uyghur minority in China to Beijing, two sources told AFP on Monday, while Damascus Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani is visiting the country for the first time, Al Arabiya reported.

The issue of Uyghur fighters was expected to be on al-Shaibani's agenda in Beijing, a source in the Syrian government told AFP on condition of anonymity, adding that "based on China's request, Damascus intends to hand over the fighters in groups".

A diplomatic source in Syria, who also wished to remain anonymous, told AFP that "Syria intends to hand over 400 Uyghur fighters to China in the coming period".

Citing an "official source" in the Syrian Foreign Ministry, the official Syrian news agency SANA denied AFP's report later on Monday.