Thu, November 20, 2008
LONGNAN, Gansu Province, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Police arrested 30 people involved in a violent protest in northwest China's Gansu Province, a local official said at a press conference here on Thursday.
A group of 30 petitioners, who opposed a resettlement project in the Wudu District of Longnan City, initiated the protest on Monday. Eventually, more than 2,000 people became involved.
The situation is now under control but not before protesters burned and smashed local government buildings, said Li Xuechun, the city's deputy Party chief.
In all, 110 rooms and 22 vehicles were destroyed in the two-day protest. Damages are estimated at more than 5 million yuan (731,000U.S. dollars) but that number could go higher as workers access damages to their personal belongings.
Police detained 110 people for the violence, but later released80.
A total of 71 police officers and three journalists from the Gansu Provincial TV Station were injured in the unrest. Their conditions are not known at this time.
"So far as I know, 10 police officers and one journalist, who were injured by flying stones, bricks and wine bottles are being treated in the hospital," said Li.
