China's Hu urges faster rebuilding in quake zone

BEIJING, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Chinese President Hu Jintao has urged quicker reconstruction in quake-hit areas of southwest China, as millions of people face a bleak winter living in tents and temporary housing, state media reported on Tuesday.

The May 12 Sichuan earthquake killed more than 80,000 people, flattening wide swathes of southwest China and leaving millions of people homeless.

The onset of winter has added to the miseries of survivors and local governments have warned that quilts, clothing and even food, in some regions, remain scarce.

The reconstruction effort is a central plank of the government's 4 trillion yuan ($584.4 billion) stimulus plan for the ailing economy and authorities have pledged to bring the region's shattered economy back to pre-quake levels within three years.