US journalist released in China

A US photojournalist said on Sunday he was assaulted by police and briefly detained as he tried to cover a land dispute in a southern Chinese village, where residents protesting the arrest of an anti-corruption activist held officials hostage for more than a week.

Freelance journalist Danfung Dennis said he was released on Sunday afternoon after authorities detained him for about 10 to 12 hours in a hotel room in Shanwei, in Guangdong province.

Dennis, 25, said policemen hit him over the head several times and injured his arm when he tried to use his mobile phone during the detention. He was detained while reporting in Dongzhou where riot police on Saturday stormed a temple and rescued eight officials held hostage by residents. The villagers had grabbed the officials to secure the release of an activist, Chen Qian, who was arrested last week for protesting corruption.