Saturday 23 May 2009

The news from China

As many as 1,000 protestors took to the streets in northwestern China after police officers allegedly beat a cyclist for running a red light, state media reported Thursday. The angry mob in Huining county, Gansu province, overturned a police car late Tuesday before around 100 backup police arrived, the Global Times daily newspaper said, citing witnesses.

Ten police officers and government officials were injured as the crowd threw bricks at them, according to a statement posted on the local government's website Wednesday.

Around 200 protestors then moved to surround government buildings and did not disperse until midnight, the statement said. Witnesses said the protest was triggered by some traffic officers beating a 19-year-old man after he failed to stop at a red light, the Global Times said.