Thursday, June 16, 2005

News from Wal-Mart's Partner

BEIJING (Reuters) - Armed with pipes and shovels and wearing hard hats, the Chinese toughs shouted "charge" and waded into a throng of squatting farmers fighting to retain their land.

The skirmish lasts a few minutes and leaves at least one man down, an attacker flailing at his limp body with a pole, according to video footage obtained by the Washington Post of the clash in China's northern province of Hebei surrounding the capital, Beijing.

Moments later a bright explosion and what appear to be gunshots mark the start of a second charge. Screams and shouts of "Run!" and the villagers' stand crumbles.

The last shot ends frozen, the camera tilted to one side.

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