The "current overwhelming central task" in Xinjiang was to safeguard stability, China's Public Security Minister Meng Jianzhu said Friday.

Meng, also a State Councillor, came to Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on Friday morning to direct work to defuse unrest in the city, at the request of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the State Council.

"Local government and CPC committees of all levels in Xinjiang should restore social order as soon as possible for the fundamental interests of the public," Meng said.

"Those involved in violence, assaults, vandalism, looting and burning, and those who disrupt social order by different means or undermine ethnic unity, shall be punished according to the law without exception, whatever their ethnicity is," he said.

Tens of thousands of people in Urumqi took to streets on Thursday to protest against syringe attacks, and the city did not quieten down until late in the night.

Urumqi Deputy Mayor Zhang Hong said Friday the situation was basically under control in the city but that five people had been confirmed dead and 14 others injured in the protests Thursday.

Zhang said investigation had showed those involved in the syringe attacks were from the Uygur ethnic group while those attacked included people from Han and other ethnic groups.

Meng said the recent syringe attacks, which were premeditated, masterminded and conducted by law-breakers and instigated by ethnic separatist forces, were a continuation of the July 5 incident in the city.

"They plotted to undermine ethnic unity and stir up ethnic division. Fellow citizens of all ethnic groups in Xinjiang should sharpen their vigilance and not be fooled by law-breakers," he said.

Meng visited hospital patients who had been injured during the protests as well as local residents, police officers and officials. He also visited a Uygur family, and said Han and Uygur people could not be separated from each other.

"Traffic controls imposed in the city on Thursday were aimed at ensuring normal social order. I hope you understand and support us," Meng said while talking with residents in the streets.

The police chief also urged the acceleration of legal proceedings against suspects arrested in the July 5 violence.

"The masterminds should be dug out while murderers must be punished according to the law," he said.

Source: Xinhua