Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region decided to increase compensation by 200,000 yuan (US$29,300) for the families of innocent civilians killed in the July 5 riot in the regional capital Urumqi.

Bereaved families would get a total of 420,000 yuan for each fatality, said Nur Bekri, chairman of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region government on Monday.

The riot has left 197 dead and more than 1,600 injured.

Donations for the victims have exceeded 270 million yuan (US$39.5 million), local financial authority and charity organizations said Monday.

(Xinhua News Agency July 21, 2009)