The families of innocent civilians killed in Sunday's riot in western China will receive compensation of 200,000 yuan (about $30,000) for each fatality.

Wang Fengyun, director of the Urumqi Civil Affairs Bureau, made the annoucement at a press conference Friday.

Soundbite: Wang Fengyun, director of the Urumqi Civil Affairs Bureau "We will provide compensation and funeral fees for the families of victims who died in the July 5 riot. A compensation of 200,000 yuan and a funeral fee of 10,000 yuan will be given to families for each fatality."

Wang said the city government would offer a "comfort benefit" of 10,000 yuan for each fatality in addition to the funeral fee, adding that further details of the compensation would be announced soon.

At least 156 people died and more than 1,000 were wounded in the riot which broke out July 5 in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

(XHTV July 11, 2009)