Over 150 people dead in rioting in China; President Hu Jintao cancels Europe trip

BEIJING- China says President Hu Jintao has cut short an official trip to Europe to deal with the outbreak of violence in western Xinjiang where at least 156 people have died in rioting.
   
The Foreign Ministry said on its Web site Wednesday that Hu had left Italy, where he was on a state visit before he was to take part in a Group of Eight meeting with major developing countries.
   
The ministry says that State Councilor Dai Bingguo will attend G8 in the central Italian city of L’Aquila instead of Hu. A state visit to Portugal also has been canceled.