A Xinjiang official Tuesday vowed severe punishment for the mob in the "deadliest riot since New China was founded in 1949".

Sunday's riot in Urumqi has killed 156 people and injured more than 1,000, the largest number of casualties in any single incident of its kind in six decades.

"The rioters violated laws and harmed the fundamental interests of all Chinese ethnic groups," said Li Zhi, Communist Party of China (CPC) chief of Urumqi.

Police in Xinjiang have arrested 1,434 suspects over Sunday's deadly riot, including 1,379 men and 55 women. They are said to have conducted violent acts of killing, beating, smashing, looting and burning.

While those under arrest might be released if no serious criminal records were found, Li said authorities would not let pass those who were still at large.

(Xinhua News Agency July 7, 2009)