Beijing, Oct. 30 : A High Court in China' Xinjiang province on Friday upheld the verdict of the first-instant trials in the Urumqi violence, which sentenced 21 people that included death penalty to nine.

The death sentences will take effect after review and approval by the Supreme People''s Court, the Higher People''s Court of Xinjiang said.

The higher people''s court rejected appeals of Gheni Yusup, Ahmatjan Moming, Han Junbo and 12 others who were convicted of murder and other crimes in the deadly July 5 riot in Urumqi, Xinhua reports.

All the three second-instance trials involving death penalties were heard in open sessions on Friday.

The court also reviewed and approved the penalties of six others who did not lodge appeals against the first-instance trial verdicts. (ANI)