Uighurs protesters assault Thai Consulate in Istanbul

Protesters have stormed the Thai Consulate in Istanbul to denounce Thailand's decision to deport 109 ethnic Uighur migrants back to China. Nine people were arrested.

The group hurled rocks at the building early on Thursday, smashing windows and breaking in to the offices, where they destroyed pictures and furniture and hurled files out into the yard.

Turkey has cultural ties to the minority Muslim Uighurs and pro-Uighur groups fear those deported face persecution by the Chinese government.

Thai authorities said the 109 were returned to China under an agreement that guarantees their safety.

Last week, Turkey took in a group of 173 Uighur migrants from Thailand, prompting Beijing to express displeasure with Ankara. Thailand said they had been identified as Turkish.