Angry China city calmer after top official sacked

URUMQI, China — The sacking of the head of a western Chinese city shaken by ethnic violence and a bizarre string of needle attacks appeared to dull public anger Sunday after three days of protests.

Although security was still heavy in Urumqi, many of the paramilitary troops had withdrawn from positions around the city. State television showed local officials visiting residents apparently to reassure them of their safety and to hear grievances.

The removal of Urumqi’s Communist Party Secretary Li Zhi came after protesters marched by the thousands Thursday and Friday demanding the resignation of Li and his boss, Xinjiang Party Secretary Wang Lequan, for failing to provide adequate public safety against the syringe attacks.

Also sacked was the police chief of Xinjiang, China’s westernmost region. Urumqi, its capital, has been on edge since ethnic riots in early July between the majority Han Chinese and the native, largely Muslim Uighurs. The government has said nearly 200 were killed.

The Urumqi Morning Post described Li’s sacking as a move to “strengthen the city leadership under special conditions,” referring to the riots, the recent needle attacks and the protests.

The newspaper praised his replacement, Zhu Hailun, as having long experience in southern Xinjiang, where Uighurs make up a much larger share of the population. It said he had “rich experience in fighting separatism.” Uighur separatists have waged a sporadically violent campaign for a homeland.

The firing may also help quash calls to dismiss Wang — a member of China’s ruling Politburo and an ally of President Hu Jintao.

The riots in July were the worst communal violence in more than a decade in Xinjiang. The protests in the past week underscored the difficulties authorities have had in reasserting control.

Propaganda trucks continued to broadcast that the needle attacks were part of an organized separatist plot to spread terror, but gave no evidence to back up the claim.

The official Xinhua News Agency said Sunday that harsh punishment would be meted out to those convicted in attacks with hypodermic needles containing harmful substances or contaminated by drug use.

Penalties would range from three years in prison to the death sentence, Xinhua said citing a notice from a municipal court.

Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu said Friday the Muslim separatists that Beijing blames for the July rioting also orchestrated the syringe attacks.

The official Xinhua News Agency quoted Wang as saying 1,500 officials and police officers have been sent to Uighur neighborhoods in Urumqi since the July riot to spread the government’s message and help “solve disputes.”

Another 600 senior officials will be deployed to do the same in Han Chinese communities there, Wang said.

Mobile phone text messaging, international calls and the Internet continued to be cut off in most parts of the city Sunday.

In some cases, foreign camera crews have been detained, with tapes and equipment seized. Hong Kong’s Cable TV reported five Hong Kong journalists were held for about half an hour in Urumqi on Sunday, with police saying it was a misunderstanding.

Residents said they just wanted life to return to normal.

“We need stability, we need to get the police off the street,” said a Han Chinese man who would give only his surname, Chen. When asked if Wang should have been fired as well, he said Wang was “too big, there is nothing you can do.”

A Uighur woman, who refused to give her name, said whatever happens, “they will blame us.”

Xinjiang police have detained 25 suspects in the syringe attacks, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

Urumqi’s prosecutor said two of the suspects jabbed a taxi driver with a heroin-filled syringe to steal 710 yuan ($105) to buy drugs. No motive was given for the other attacks.

Barricades were still in place Sunday at entrances to a heavily Uighur neighborhood — a sign officials were worried the mainly Han Chinese protesters might try to storm in.

More than 500 people have sought treatment for stabbings, though only about 100 showed signs of having been pricked, according to state media reports. Members of a visiting People’s Liberation Army medical team said they checked 22 patients who showed clear signs of having been stabbed.

Tests were still being conducted for HIV, hepatitis, and sexually transmitted diseases, said Qian Jun, one of the team’s leaders.

Prosecutor Udgar Abdulrahman said four of the detained suspects were charged with endangering public security.