President Hu holds key meeting on Xinjiang riot

Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday night convened a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to discuss issues relating to the Xinjiang riot.

The meeting was told that stability in Xinjiang is the "most important and pressing task," according to a statement issued Thursday. The meeting also vowed "severe punishment" on culprits in accordance with the law.

Hu, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, cut short his trip in Europe and skipped the G-8 meeting due to the situations in Xinjiang. He arrived in Beijing Wednesday afternoon.

The government will "firmly crack down on serious crimes including assaults, vandalism, looting and arson" to maintain social stability and safeguard people's fundamental interests in Xinjiang, according to the statement.

The Standing Committee told relevant authorities to "isolate and crack down on the tiny few" and "unify and educate the majority of masses".

"Instigators, organizers, culprits and violent criminals in the unrest shall be severely punished in accordance with the law," it said. "Those taking part in the riot due to provocation and deceit from by separatists, should be given education."

The deadly July 5 unrest in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has "profound" political background, the statement said.

It was a serious violent crime which was masterminded and organized by the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism at home and abroad, it said. The unrest has resulted in great losses to people and done great harm to local order and stability, it said.

The Standing Committee asked local government to visit bereaved families, innocent people injured, and those with property losses, to offer necessary support and aid.

In the July 5 riot at least 156 people were killed and more than 1,000 injured.