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China police arrests 19 in Guangdong riots

TOKYO, June 17 (KUNA) -- Police in south China's Guangdong Province have arrested 19 people who are allegedly connected to a recent incident of unrest in the region, the official Xinhua News Agency reported Friday.
"The 19 suspects were arrested with the approval of local procurators on three charges, including obstruction of official affairs, causing a disturbance and intentional damage of property," the Zengcheng city government in Guangdong Province said in a statement carried by Xinhua.
The unrest erupted on June 10 after a pregnant woman fell into a dispute with local security personnel who asked her to move her stall, which was placed in front of a supermarket, the Zengcheng government said. The woman and her husband were migrant workers from southwest China's Sichuan Province.
"More than 100 people gathered in front of the supermarket on that night, some of whom hurled bottles and bricks at government officials and police vehicles. They later marched towards the nearby Dadun public security station, damaging several police vehicles and private cars with rocks in the process," the statement said.
Some people gathered around the public security station again over the weekend, vandalizing vehicles and automatic teller machines and attacking police officers, it said, adding that the unrest was brought under control on Monday.
Zengcheng is a bustling city in China's industrial hub that lies near the border with Hong Kong.
According to the Hong Kong-based RTHK radio, thousands of people, mostly migrant workers from Sichuan, rampaged through the streets in protest over the weekend, while riot police fired tear gas and deployed armored vehicles to disperse crowds.
About 1,000 police in riot gear were mobilized following three nights of protests and rioting, it said. (end) mk.hb KUNA 171927 Jun 11NNNN