Southern China villagers riot over land dispute

BEIJING – Protests by hundreds of villagers over a land dispute in southern China have turned violent, with residents smashing buildings, overturning vehicles and clashing with police.

A woman surnamed Chen from Wukan village in Guangdong province says some villagers were beaten and injured Thursday after they surrounded a police station.

Chen said Friday that it was the second day the villagers had gathered to protest a rumor that their farmland was going to be sold without their consent.

A local government statement says about 200 villagers gathered Wednesday at an industrial park and smashed buildings and equipment and blocked roads. It says more than 10 police officers were injured and six police vehicles were damaged in Thursday's violence.