Scuffles on second day of protests at Southern Weekly office in Guangzhou
Demonstrators for press freedom are branded 'traitors' by party loyalists on second day of disturbances amid a heavy police presence
Tensions escalated yesterday as Communist Party loyalists clashed with Southern Weekly supporters outside the Nanfang Media Group's headquarters in Guangzhou.
The disturbances came amid heightened security on the 8second day of protests against censorship at the newspaper.
About a dozen protesters began to gather outside the headquarters, which house Southern Weekly's office, around 10am amid a heavy police presence.
They called for press freedom and civil and constitutional rights while denouncing censorship by the authorities.
The crowd had grown to nearly 100 by around 11.30am when a group of about 10 party supporters rushed to the scene in dramatic fashion, waving giant 8national flags and huge banners.
The protesters accused the party loyalists of being members of the "50 fen gang" - people paid 50 fen for each positive online posting they make in support of the party and government.
Arguments broke out after the party loyalists accused the Southern Weekly supporters of being "traitors collaborating with hostile foreign powers" and said there should be "no free speech for traitors and traitor media".