China's Hu urges ethnic unity in troubled western region

Beijing - Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday appealed for unity in the ethnically divided Xinjiang region, where scores of people died after rioting early last month. Hu urged people in the far western region to 'oppose ethnic separatism' and maintain national unity in a speech that was read by presenters on national television. 'National solidarity is the lifeblood of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang,' Hu was quoted as saying in the speech at a meeting of top officials in Urumqi, the regional capital. Hu said his trip to 'investigate' the situation in Xinjiang was timed to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949, and the 'peaceful liberation' of Xinjiang by Chinese troops the same year. Rioting last month left 197 people dead and more than 1,600 injured in Urumqi, according to the government. Members of the Uighur ethnic minority rampaged through Urumqi and attacked Han Chinese residents and police on July 5. Uighur exile groups said that up to 800 people died in the violence, many of them Uighurs shot or beaten to death by police. On Tuesday, Hu blamed the violence on the 'three forces' of terrorism, religious extremism and separatism. He said the ruling Communist Party should give more support to the development of minority regions, such as Xinjiang, with the economy, stability and national solidarity as the three pillars of growth. Officials in Urumqi on Tuesday said they were unsure when trials would begin for scores of people arrested after the rioting. Li Hua, a spokesman for the regional government, said officials remained 'unclear' about trial dates despite an official China Daily report Monday that trials of more than 200 defendants were expected to begin this week. All trials would be open to the public except for those involving charges of 'splitting the state' and extra security measures were in place at the court in Urumqi, the newspaper said. Reports by Uighur exile groups said the violence in Urumqi began after riot police confronted Uighur protestors while the government claimed the violence was organized by 'overseas separatist forces.' Han Chinese residents marched through the city and attacked Uighurs two days after the initial rioting.