Chinese villagers clash with police over pollution

BEIJING (AP) - Residents of a south China town protesting the building of a coal-fired power plant threw bricks at police who fired volleys of tear gas and detained dozens in the country's latest unrest over an environmental dispute, residents said on Monday.

At least 1,000 people in the small town of Yinggehai on China's Hainan island launched several days of protests starting last week after construction resumed on the plant, which had been halted by earlier demonstrations. Dozens have been injured and many detained by police, who have put the town under strict surveillance, residents said.

Police and local officials declined to comment.

"They fired tear gas to disperse the crowds in the past few days," said a resident who gave only his surname, Xian, because he didn't want to be identified by authorities. "We don't want a power plant here that will cause serious pollution."