WRAPUP 4-Chinese police break up Xinjiang protest

(For earlier stories, click on [nXINJIANG])

* Thousands of troops and police remain on streets

* Hu says maintaining stability paramount

* Washington urges restraint

* Foreign journalists asked to leave Kashgar

By Chris Buckley

URUMQI, China, July 10 (Reuters) - Chinese riot police broke up a small demonstration by Uighurs leaving Friday prayers in a Muslim Uighur neighbourhood of Urumqi, arresting several who were taken away with hands above their heads.

The action came as the United States urged Chinese leaders to act with restraint in tackling the unrest in the Xinjiang region.

A crowd of several hundred gathered near the White Mosque in the regional capital Urumqi along with riot police with submachine guns as armoured police vehicles blocked roads around the building and a helicopter hovered overhead, the first sign of unrest days after deadly rioting in the ethnically divided city.