Villagers in China turn on police, injure 27 in attack

BEIJING – Villagers in southern China have attacked policemen who were seeking a pair of suspects, injuring 27 officers.

The official Xinhua News Agency says the injured officers were hospitalized, including one in critical condition.

Xinhua says police on Tuesday came to Yunnan province's Jincheng township looking for two people suspected of illegal detention and intentional injury. About 200 residents blocked the highway in the village of Guangji, detaining 11 officers. Violence broke out when police reinforcements arrived.

Xinhua says the last 13 officers held were unable to leave the village until Wednesday afternoon. It says no injuries among villagers were reported and makes no mention of arrests.

Calls to police and county government offices rang unanswered Wednesday.

Illegal land seizures and anti-pollution protests are frequently the cause of such incidents.