China removes Xinjiang province leader

China has removed the hardline Communist party leader of Xinjiang, less than a year after ethnic riots in the restive north-western province left almost 200 dead . Wang Lequan's new position as deputy secretary of the party's political and legislative affairs committee was seen by many as a demotion, although his 15-year tenure as the region's top official was highly unusual. It is not clear whether the Wang, 65, remains in the ruling politburo. Two months after riots last July, Han Chinese demonstrators surrounded government buildings in the Xinjiang capital, Urumqi, and called for Wang's resignation in a rare mass challenge to the party. The city's party secretary and the regional police chief were replaced days later. Analysts suggested Beijing might also replace Wang, but would be reluctant to do so immediately in case it looked like a sign of weakness. The announcement this weekend of Wang's removal comes as Beijing launches a drive to accelerate development in response to the unrest. On Friday, a meeting led by President Hu Jintao stressed that economic and social development in Xinjiang be pushed forward "in a sound and speedy manner, with priority on guaranteeing and improving people's livelihoods so all ethnic groups in the region can live a more prosperous and happier life", the state news agency Xinhua reported. The approach is a marked shift from Wang's relentless focus on security, with its repeated "strike hard" campaigns . But there is no sign that authorities are reconsidering cultural policies that many Uighurs resent. Muslim Uighurs make up almost half of the region's 22 million population. Many chafe at restrictions on their practise of Islam, at rapid development that they say has brought them little benefit, and at large-scale Han migration which they fear is eroding their culture. Xi Jinping, expected by many to be the next Chinese president, praised Wang at a meeting announcing the change of leadership. "He firmly adhered to the idea that stability overrides everything, unswervingly safeguarded national unity and struggled with a clear-cut stand against the forces of ethnic separatism," Xi said. But he added that Wang's replacement, Zhang Chunxian, had "liberated ideas, a clear-thinking mind and a spirit of creative thought". Zhang, 57, was previously party secretary for the southern Hunan province and before that minister of communication. The authorities say mostly Han Chinese died in the violence in July, which saw Uighur assaults on Han followed by Han revenge attacks. Some Uighurs believe officials have not acknowledged the true death toll in their community. China claims the violence was instigated by Uighur exiles. They deny this and allege security forces cracked down on peaceful protesters.