China Villager Chief Arrested

The Chinese fishing village of Wukan staged a fourth straight day of protests on Wednesday against what residents say was the unlawful arrest of the village chief, a rare show of grassroots defiance against authorities in Communist China.

More than 1,000 residents of a southern Chinese village that was once hailed as a beacon of democracy in the Communist-ruled country marched in protest today, demanding the release of the village chief who was detained in a weekend raid.

Authorities in southern China have detained the chief of a village that was once hailed as a model for grassroots democracy, accusing him of accepting bribes, while deploying hundreds of riot police to stave off potential trouble.

The Chinese fishing village of Wukan staged a fourth straight day of protests on Wednesday against what residents say was the unlawful arrest of the village chief, a rare show of grassroots defiance against authorities in Communist China.

More than 1,000 residents of a southern Chinese village that was once hailed as a beacon of democracy in the Communist-ruled country marched in protest today, demanding the release of the village chief who was detained in a weekend raid.

Authorities in southern China have detained the chief of a village that was once hailed as a model for grassroots democracy, accusing him of accepting bribes, while deploying hundreds of riot police to stave off potential trouble.