Protesters burn police cars in China

Protesters have burned police and fire department vehicles in a violent outburst of anger against the treatment of migrant workers in southern China’s manufacturing hub, eyewitnesses said.

The riot last night followed three days of steadily growing unrest in the town of Xintang in Guangdong province.

Guangdong is the linchpin of China’s crucial export industry.

Accounts of the violence in state-controlled media have been sparse, but the official Xinhua News Agency says a government team has been sent to the area to quell rumours surrounding the unrest.

Violence broke out on Friday evening after a pregnant woman was pushed to the ground in a sweep against street vendors, most of whom are migrants from the south-western province of Sichuan.