BEIJING, July -- Police have detained 15 suspects in connection with a fight that broke out in a south China factory, which is said to have spurred the deadly riot in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Sunday.

    Thirteen men, including three natives of Xinjiang, were detained for participating in the massive fight between workers at a toy factory on June 26 in Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province, Liu Guoqiang, deputy director of the Public Security Bureau of Shaoguan, said Tuesday.

    The other two men were arrested for spreading rumors on the Web that Xinjiang employees had raped two female workers, according to Liu.

    The majority of the detained are Guangdong natives.

    More than 400 police officers are still searching for more suspects.

    Government officials say the factory fight was used as an excuse for the riot in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang, that killed at least 156 people and injured more than 1,000 others.

    Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Shaoguan. (XHTV)