Olympic torch in China's restive region

KASHGAR, China (CNN) - The Olympic torch relay came to Kasghar Wednesday in western China's Xinjiang province.

The run is in the midst of a four-day trek through the ethnically distinct section of the country.

It is home to the Uighurs - a people with their own language and culture.

Uighurs belong to a Turk-speaking, traditionally Muslim ethnic group, which makes up about 80 percent of the population in Kashgar.

Uighurs in Xinjiang are supposed to enjoy regional autonomy as guaranteed by China's constitution, but some seek independence.

But millions of Han chinese, the country's dominant ethnic group, have migrated into Xinjiang over the past 60 years, prompting complaints that they dominate local politics, culture and commerce at the Uighurs' expense.

The dissatisfaction has turned violent at times, including several and sometimes deadly bus bombings in 1992 in the provincial capital, Urumqi.

Officials blamed such incidents on Uighur groups who seek an independent Muslim state.