Angry villagers kill policeman in China riot

BEIJING: Angry villagers protesting a local mining operation in southwest China attacked security forces with machetes and clubs, leaving one policeman dead and 15 injured, local authorities said Friday.

The riot occurred on Wednesday when police were dispatched to a government building in Yunnan province's Renhe township to try and persuade villagers staging a protest in front of the building to leave, authorities said.

"Suddenly villagers attacked the police with machetes and wooden clubs, leaving 16 injured, one of whom died later while receiving treatment," said a statement released by the government of Lijiang -- which oversees Renhe.

"During the incident, the police maintained a high level of restraint and not one villager was injured," it added.