A local government official in southern China assaulted two colleagues, including a deputy mayor, in a row over staff commendations, according to a newspaper report.
The official threw a bottle of water and a plastic name plaque at the vice mayor of Zhanjiang in Guangdong province, the Southern Metropolis News said.
He then punched and kicked another colleague who tried to intervene, the newspaper reported.
The dispute started after the deputy mayor did not approve a list of 80 staff to be given formal commendations for helping to organise a provincial sports meeting this month.
The angry official, who was not named but whose title was given as deputy party secretary of Zhanjiang’s law and politics committee, was angry because many of its members were involved in the event.
“He burst in, cursing and ranting,” said one witness who was present at the meeting held on Tuesday night at a sports centre.