4 Mar 2012

Leaders of revolt elected by village

8:06 am on 4 March 2012

Two men in southern China have been elected to run the village they led in open revolt against land-grabs by officials.

Residents of Wukan in southern Guangdong province voted Lin Zuluan and Yang Semao into office, as village chief and deputy.

The BBC reports Mr Lin received 6205 votes on a turnout of 80%. Some 6800 residents voted.

Five other seats on the village committee will be filled in a run-off vote on Sunday.

Last December, Wukan's residents drove out officials who they said had been stealing their land for years.

The BBC reports an offer of new elections was among a number of rare concessions by the government to end the stand-off.