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Go Asia Pacific Breaking News Asia - Reports emerge on riot in China
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Reports emerge on riot in China
Officials in China have confirmed there was a riot in a small eastern city last week, after a government car hit and killed a street vendor.
The riot took place on October 28 in Zoucheng city in China's eastern Shandong province, but only now are details emerging.
A human rights group and local residents say thousands of people stormed a government building, smashing and looting furniture and equipment.
It happened a day after a street vendor was killed by a government car as officials attempted to confiscate his equipment.
A government official says only a few dozen people were involved, and a small number of arrests were made.
However, the Human Rights in China organisation says officials are attempting to cover up the seriousness of the incident.
Our China correspondent, John Taylor, reports social instability appears to be growing in authoritarian China, with an increasing number of protests, riots and disputes being reported in many parts of the country.
04/11/2003 12:35:26 | ABC Radio Australia News
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