Rebels of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) which is active in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous district of China are fighting on the side of the opposition in Syria

Rebels of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) which is active in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous district of China are fighting on the side of the opposition in Syria, the China-based Global Times daily says citing source in the country's security services.

The paper says that members of the ETIM have been travelling to Syria since May to join al-Qaeda and other extremist organizations in fights against the regime.

The ETIM is on the UN list of terrorist organizations.

Its militants seek autonomy for the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous district from the rest of China.