GUANGZHOU, China: Nine Chinese villagers were arrested for allegedly instigating riots that caused police to intervene and kill three protesters, local reports said Tuesday.

Those arrested in the southern village of Dongzhou in Guangdong province included three main suspects described as "wanted criminals" by the police, the South China Morning Post reported.

Villagers said the arrests were announced on local television, and that police were using photographs taken during the riots and searching door to door for others who joined last Tuesday's protest over the seizure of land for a power plant.

Police opened fire on hundreds of protesters, killing at least three and injuring at least eight, when a demonstration against local officials over compensation for their land turned violent.

Guangdong newspapers said Sunday that a commanding officer had been detained for causing "deaths and injuries by accident" during the riot.

Relatives of one victim, Wei Jin, said his body had not been returned to them, as they would not agree to accept a government compensation of about $6,000 on condition that the body be buried immediately under official supervision.