Anti-Japan protests turn violent in Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Qingdao

Torrid protests against Japan broke out in dozens of mainland cities for a second day yesterday, prompting Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda to urge Beijing to protect his country's companies and diplomatic buildings from fresh assaults.

Demonstrations sparked by the Diaoyu Islands dispute descended into violence in Shenzhen and Guangzhou and in Qingdao in Shandong province, with angry protesters clashing with police, Japanese factories being burned, restaurants and hotels being smashed, and cars vandalised.

Shenzhen police had to fire tear gas and use water cannon to repel protesters who tried to break into government buildings, and detained at least a dozen of them.

Several thousands protesters began to gather on Shennan Boulevard, a major road in Shenzhen, at about eight in the morning. About two hours later, they clashed with armed policemen, throwing flowerpots and water bottles at the police force when they were stopped close to the compound of the city's party committee, also on the boulevard. Some protesters also attacked cars believed to be owned by party cadres.

The clash escalated at around 11am, when police began to fire tear gas and water cannons more frequently at the crowd.

In Guangzhou, protesters broke into the lobby of the Garden Hotel and smashed a Japanese restaurant on the second floor, despite a heavy police presence.

The hotel became a gathering point for more than 10,000 demonstrators because it is next to the Japanese embassy. A dozen demonstrators were detained by armed police.