China steps up anti-separatism legislation

URUMQI, China, July 19 (UPI) -- China planned to speed up legislation against separatism in the Xinjiang-Uighur region, whose capital Urumqi was hit by deadly ethnic violence July 5.

Eligen Imibakhi, chairman of the Standing Committee of the northwest region's People's Congress, said the regional congress would unswervingly safeguard the dignity and authority of the constitution and other laws, the state-run Xinhua news agency reported Monday. The report did not give details of the proposed legislation.

China has blamed separatist Muslim Uighur groups for the July 5 riots between Muslim Uighurs and Han Chinese in which more than 190 people died. The groups have denied the charges.

Xinhua quoted Imibakhi as saying the riots were planned by the "three forces" at home and abroad. China describes the "three forces" as extremism, separatism and terrorism.

He said the region lacks law books in ethnic minority languages and experts have been engaged to do translation work.