Campaigner knocked unconscious
Dozens of police from rival city districts in Beijing fought a pitched battle yesterday over Christian activist Hua Huiqi, who was knocked unconscious during the melee and admitted to hospital.
Four factions took part in the battle that saw Chongwen district police and security guards, whom witnesses said worked for New World China Land - a subsidiary of Hong Kong's New World Development - squaring off against police from Fengtai district and plain-clothes national security officers, who had been monitoring Mr Hua for weeks.
'You killed my brother!' Hua's sister, Hua Yaping, screamed at men in street clothes believed to be officers from Mr Hua's local police station who had beaten him.
Mr Hua lay immobile on a gurney in Tiantan Hospital for an hour, eyes shut, before being treated. His trousers were wet from urine and dirty from the beating, according to another sister, Hua Huilin .
A woman answering the telephone at the district police station declined to comment, adding the officers were all in a meeting. She also declined to take questions.
Attempts to contact New World in Hong Kong and its office in Beijing for comments were not successful because office staff said the managers responsible were not available.
