Beijing: A Chinese village where police shot protesting residents last year has again erupted in conflict after protesters took eight officials hostage, residents and a news report said yesterday.

Angry residents of Dongzhou in the southern province of Guangdong had held the officials near the village for nearly a week, demanding the release of a detained local activist, Radio Free Asia reported.

The villagers were protesting the detention on November 9 of Chen Jian, a resident who had hung anti-corruption slogans outside his house.

Three residents also said there had been a standoff with officials and that police and anti-riot troops had gathered on the edge of the village.

"The villagers grabbed eight government officials and have kept them locked in the temple for seven days," said one shopkeeper in Dongzhou.

Dongzhou police and officials in Shanwei, the nearby city in charge of the area refused to comment.

Dongzhou again appears to be witnessing one of the thousands of protests and confrontations that the Chinese government says happen every year.