Wukan

Residents of a southern Chinese village once seen as a cradle of grassroots democracy were in shock on Wednesday after a "wild crackdown" by police in clashes with protesters which they said led to about 70 people being detained.

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.

Hundreds of villagers locked in a stand-off with Chinese officials held yet another demonstration at Wukan village on Wednesday even as China's Internet censors blocked searches relating to the protests over land rights.

Residents of a southern Chinese village once seen as a cradle of grassroots democracy were in shock on Wednesday after a "wild crackdown" by police in clashes with protesters which they said led to about 70 people being detained.

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.

Hundreds of villagers locked in a stand-off with Chinese officials held yet another demonstration at Wukan village on Wednesday even as China's Internet censors blocked searches relating to the protests over land rights.