China's security chief urges 'civilised' law enforcement

BEIJING: China's security chief has urged authorities to resolve conflicts swiftly and enforce the law in a "civilised" way, after a recent upsurge in social unrest in the country of 1.3 billion people.

Zhou Yongkang, a member of China's powerful Politburo, said authorities should try to resolve disputes "at the grassroots level," as the government seeks to prevent outbreaks of violence.

His comments, in a speech delivered on Wednesday, underscore the growing concern of China's ruling Communist party over unrest ahead of a generational leadership transition that starts next year.

This week alone, hundreds of demonstrators have clashed with police for two straight days in a protest over plans to expand a power plant in the southern town of Haimen, in wealthy Guangdong province.

But in the nearby village of Wukan, residents have ended a long stand-off with authorities after a senior official said their complaints about land seizures were "reasonable" and agreed to release three detained protest leaders.