Iran has voiced concern over the recent clashes in China's northwestern province of Xinjiang where up to 150 people have been killed.

The policies of the government in Beijing have encouraged an increase in the Han population in the northwestern Chinese territory of Xinjiang.

As a result of the policies, the balance of the population in the region has been upset and acts of violence have emerged against the Muslim Uighurs.

In a telephone conversation with Secretary General of the 56-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki voiced Iran's support for “the rights of Chinese Muslims”.

Mottaki is also expected to hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi over the issue.

The clashes are thought to be the deadliest unrest of its kind to hit the country in decades.

Some 1,430 people have been taken into custody by Chinese security forces since the riots began on Sunday.

Opposition leaders in exile have accused police of firing rounds to break up the peaceful protests staged by Uighur groups in response to the policies of the Beijing government.

President Hu Jintao cut short his visit to a Group of Eight (G8) summit in Italy in a bid to resolve the crisis at home.

Hu has vowed to “severely punish” those behind the deadly rioting in the Muslim region.

DB/HGH/AA