Beijing, Jumada II 14, 1434, Apr 24, 2013, SPA - Violence in the western Chinese region of Xinjiang has killed 21 people, including police officers and local officials, authorities said Wednesday. The clash took place Tuesday afternoon in Bachu county after three local officials visiting homes in the area found "several suspicious persons" and knives in one house, according to a statement on the website of the Xinjiang government. The people in the house then took the officials hostage, CNN cited the statement as saying, and that the ensuing violence left six of the assailants and 15 other people dead. --SPA 11:52 LOCAL TIME 08:52 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/1102394