A man allegedly killed two schoolchildren with a broadsword in revenge for their school's failure to explain why his son killed his daughter in an argument over schoolwork, say police in northwest China.

Abduhalik Muzht allegedly attacked a group of pupils with the sword at 2:00 PM on Wednesday in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, killing two and injuring three others and a teacher.

The attack occurred as the students and teacher, from the primary school attached to the city's No. 65 Middle School, were waiting to cross the street in front of the school.

One child died at the scene and another later in hospital, the police said, adding that the victims were aged about nine or ten.

The three injured children and their 20-year-old teacher Ma Rui are still in hospital, but out of danger, said police.

"Miss Ma protected us and was badly injured on her face," said 10-year-old Yu Yang.

Last year Muzht's eight-year-old son strangled his elder sister in a furious quarrel over the girl's poor school results, which "embarrassed" him, police said.

Muzht believed the school was responsible for the incident. He repeatedly asked the school for an "explanation", but received no response.

The investigation is continuing and the school is operating as normal, police said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 23, 2006)