President Hu shortens visit to Italy and goes back home

FLORENCE, Italy: The situation in Xinjiang has shortened President Hu Jintao's visit to Italy and he will be absent at the summit meeting between the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized nations and five emerging developing countries in the central Italian city of L'Aquila.

He left Italy for Beijing this morning after concluding the State visit to the country.

His leave is days ahead of schedule because of the riots in Xinjiang, according to the Foreign Ministry.

A total of 156 people died and a further 1,000-odd were injured in the riot Sunday evening in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The riot is described as the "deadliest riot since New China was founded in 1949."

Rioters burned 261 motor vehicles, including 190 buses, at least 10 taxis and two police cars, according to Liu Yaohua, the region's police chief.

President Hu arrived in Rome on Sunday to start his State visit to Italy. According to the original plan, he will attend the meeting between the leaders of the G8 major industrial nations and five main developing economies from July 8-10 in the central Italian city of L'Aquila. And then, President Hu will also visit Portugal from July 10-12.

State Councillor Dai Bingguo will represent Hu to attend the session, according to the Foreign Ministry.

And the Chinese and Portugal governments will discuss the date of Hu's State visit at some other time.

The G8 nations are Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Canada and the United States, while the G5 includes China, India, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa.