A local agricultural company in Wangjia village in northern Shanxi province paid 10,000 yuan (S$2,179) for the funeral costs for Ren Shoufu, a 61-year-old security guard, after he died of an apparent heart attack in the company's gate-house, Xinhua said.

On Friday morning, Mr Ren's foster son 'led more than 150 people wielding wooden rods to block both gates of the company. He said more money should be paid for Ren's death,' the agency said.

The impasse ended after two hours when police detained 77 people.

Xinhua quoted police as saying the detainees were mostly from other provinces, and had allegedly received 100-200 yuan from the foster son to threaten the company.

They had been brought to Wangjia on three buses from Taiyuan, Shanxi's provincial capital, and then given wooden rods, police added.

Police were looking for the foster son.

The Xinhua report contradicted an earlier report from Hong Kong-based rights group Information Center for Human Rights and Democracy which said the riot was triggered by alleged vote-buying in local village elections.

Two local officials had denied the rights group's report, Xinhua said.

Officials could not be reached at government offices for Nanzheng township, which administers Wangjia.

Two Wangjia residents confirmed the riot had occurred.

'As to why it happened, I don't know,' a woman surnamed Wang told Reuters by telephone, adding the village election had passed peacefully on Saturday morning. -- REUTERS