国内英语新闻:Internet services resumed in Xinjiang

URUMQI, May 14 (Xinhua) -- Internet services were resumed in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Friday, 10 months after a riot in Urumqi on July 5, the regional government said.

In a document released by its press office, Xinjiang's regional government said Internet services were "fully resumed" in line with the region's needs for maintaining stability and boosting social and economic development.

The move was also aimed at meeting the Xinjiang residents' requests for information, it said.

Xinjiang has 7 million Internet users.

The government expressed appreciation for the netizens' understanding and support when Internet connection, international long-distance calls and mobile phone text messages were cut in some areas of Xinjiang after the July 5 riot.

Disruption of communication was aimed at cracking down on the riot quickly and prevent violence from happening again, as the riot was believed to have been orchestrated by separatists via the Internet, text message and long-distance telephone calls.

Resumption of Internet services in Xinjiang has been a gradual process. Access to two leading news websites, xinhuanet.com and people.com.cn, was restored in December, followed by access to another two portal websites, sina.com.cn and sohu.com, on Jan. 10.

Email services were resumed in March. International long-distance calls and mobile texting services have also been resumed gradually.