Chinese man killed after filming protest

A man who used his mobile phone to film a violent clash between villagers and officials in rural China was beaten to death by public order "enforcers", Chinese state media reported yesterday, bringing more unwanted attention to the country's unruly hinterlands.

Wei was driving through the area when he stopped to film the protests, which were triggered by a decision to build a rubbish tip close to a residential area.

Normally hired by local authorities to enforce relocation orders, crack down on "antisocial" behaviour and disperse crowds, the role of the chengguan has aroused concern about the power and accountability of Chinese officialdom.

One indignant contributor to a local online discussion group said that they were "inhuman" and "out of control". Another, worried that the news will be suppressed by government censors, urged fellow internet users to spread the message as far as they could.