Islamic leader calls riot a 'crime'

China's top Islamic leader yesterday called for calm while slamming Sunday's riot in Xinjiang as "a serious crime".

Chen Guangyuan, president of the Islamic Association of China (IAC), said the riot has gone "against the basic doctrine of Islam".

"As head of the IAC, I express my severe condemnation and great indignation over it," the 77-year-old imam said at a press conference.