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Riot in southern China sparked after government officers beat up street musicians

BEIJING An official in a southern town in China confirms that government officers who assaulted four disabled street musicians were attacked by angry bystanders.

The incident happened last weekend. A musician quoted by Radio Free Asia says the officers ordered the musicians to stop singing because they were interfering with traffic and causing an environmental problem. An official confirms the musicians were beaten but says the musicians were breaking the law and the officers had to "correct them."

The radio report says a crowd of hundreds of people intervened after the officers started kicking and punching the musicians.

A Chinese official confirms there was an "incident" but says he wouldn't call it a riot.

Similar incidents have been reported in a number of Chinese cities in recent months.

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