$args = array(
        \'posts_per_page\' => 5,
        \'cat\' => 77 // 77 - id category
    );

    $query = new WP_Query( $args );

    // loop
    if ( $query->have_posts() ) {
        while ( $query->have_posts() ) {
            $query->the_post();
echo \'<li>\';
the_post_thumbnail();
            echo \'<a href="\'.get_permalink().\'">\' . get_the_title() . \'</a></li>\';
        }
    } else {
        // posts not fount
    echo \'posts not fount\';
    }
    wp_reset_postdata();

<?php query_posts(\'category_name=xxxxxxxxxxxx&order=dsc&showposts=12\'); ?>
        <?php if ( have_posts() ) : while ( have_posts() ) : the_post(); ?>
                <a href="<?php the_permalink() ?>" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to <?php the_title_attribute(); ?>"><?php the_title(); ?></a>
<br clear="all"><br />
        <?php endwhile; ?>
        <?php endif; ?>