Beijing sacks party boss in riot-hit area

China has replaced the head of the Communist Party in the restive far-western region of Xinjiang, months after deadly ethnic riots. State media reports gave no immediate reason for removing the unpopular Wang Lequan, 65, in office since 1995. He was in charge last July when riots in the regional capital of Urumqi pitted minority Uighurs against ethnic majority Han Chinese. Almost 200 people were killed, mostly Han.

The Uighurs see Xinjiang as their homeland and resent the Han, who have moved in. Dilxat Raxit, an Uighur activist, said the leadership change was not enough and Uighurs needed more political rights.