Email service was resumed and the restriction on the number of text messages one can send was lifted in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Saturday, about eight months after the July 5 riot in the regional capital Urumqi.

A local resident named Xiao Yong found he could now send and receive emails as usual and there are no longer restrictions in surfing 32 websites.

Restriction on the number of text messages has also been lifted, according to Hou Hanmin, a spokesperson of the regional government Sunday.

The communication service would open further step by step, Hou said.

The regional government began to control the communications after the Urumqi riot on July 5 in 2009, which was orchestrated by the separatists via the Internet, text message and long-distance telephone call.

The access for Xinjiang residents to two websites, namely xinhuanet.com and people.com.cn, were restored on Dec. 28, followed by access to another two portal websites, sina.com.cn and sohu.com, on Jan. 10.

Other services have also been gradually resumed, including international long-distance call of some departments and text messages from banks, securities dealers and weather forecast departments.

Internet connection, international long-distance phone call and mobile phone text message services were cut in some areas of Xinjiang after the July 5 riot, in a move to crack down on the riot quickly and prevent violence from happening again.

"These restrictions played an important role in maintaining the stabilization of the region, but also brought inconvenience to the residents. However, people of various ethnic groups in Xinjiang have shown understanding of and fully supported these measures," said Yang Maofa, director of the communications administration bureau of Xinjiang.

More websites would open gradually, Hou said, without revealing the exact time.