The deadly riots in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjing Uygur autonomous region, on Sunday night claimed 156 lives and left 1,080 injured. The Chinese media have criticized the preplanned violence. Below are three excerpts from People's Daily, Dahe Daily Website and Xinhua:

The riots in Urumqi on Sunday night were planned by forces outside the country and unleashed by outlaws within. Such barbaric acts should not be tolerated and we should adopt forceful and immediate steps to restore order and social stability.

Facts prove that the Urumqi riots were plotted by reactionary forces from outside the country and were aimed at stoking social unrest and violence in order to divide China and stop its normal development. This is by no means an ethnic or religious issue. This is a fierce struggle between a handful of Uygur separatists and the entire Chinese people, who are committed to safeguarding national and ethnic unity and social stability.

As a country ruled by law, China will under no circumstances tolerate the trampling of its legal order. So any mercy shown to criminals would be tantamount to undermining the interests of the people. China is a multi-ethnic country and the unity among all ethnic groups is at the base of its economic development and social harmony. There is no room in the country for people who try to sabotage social stability and instigate secessionist forces.

Three decades of reform and opening up have helped Xinjiang become a booming economy. It has made great progress on the social front and maintained ethnic unity, and the people there enjoy a much better life today. It is our firm belief that the riots will not stop the autonomous region's march toward deeper reform and better development, or rock the determination and confidence of the ethnic groups to work for social stability and harmony. That's why any act aimed at sabotaging the country's unity and development is doomed to fail.

(China Daily July 8, 2009)