The Al-Qaeda network has pledged to attack Chinese workers in northwestern Africa in retaliation for mistreatment by Beijing of its largest Muslim minority, the Uighurs.

Al-Qaeda's Algerian-based offshoot, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), has issued the call for vengeance, according to the South China Morning Post which quoted an intelligence report from London-based risk analysis firm Stirling Assynt, TimesOnline reported.

This would be the first time bin Laden's organisation has threatened China or its interests - underlying the risks Beijing faces as it expands its economic investments further overseas.

The assessment by Sterling Assynt warned the threat should be taken seriously and said:

"Although AQIM appear to be the first arm of al-Qaeda to officially state they will target Chinese interests, others are likely to follow", the assessment by Sterling Assynt said, and warned the threat should be taken.

The unrest in China's westernmost Xinjiang region last week in which 184 people died, most of them Han Chinese killed by furious Uighurs, has elicited sympathy in much of the Muslim world for the minority Uighurs who face tight controls on their religious practices and discrimination in the workplace.

"The general situation of China's Muslims has resonated amongst the global jihadist community. There is an increasing amount of chatter ... among jihadists who claim they want to see action against China. Some of these individuals have been actively seeking information on China's interests in the Muslim world, which they could use for targeting purposes", the report said.