BEIJING, July 15 (Reuters) - More than 1,000 people threw rocks at police and blocked roads in southern China in protest at pollution from a plant owned by one of the country's largest private aluminium producers, state media said on Thursday.
The Chinese government has become increasingly worried about rising public anger at environmental problems, especially pollution.
The official China Daily said that in the latest incident, more than 1,000 villagers in Jingxi county, in Guangxi near the border with Vietnam, took to the streets on Tuesday to protest against the Shandong Xinfa Aluminum and Power Group plant.
"Almost all the residents in Lingwan village were involved in blocking the road to Jingxi county on Tuesday afternoon, and some villagers threw stones at police who had been sent by the Jingxi government," it cited a government statement as saying.
"One official hit by stones was sent to the hospital, but no other injuries were reported," the newspaper added.
Residents also blocked the gates to the plant and damaged some production facilities before dispersing.
"Villagers have been very unhappy for a long time about the pollution caused by the plant," it quoted local government official Qin Weifeng as saying.
The newspaper said the Xinfa is one of the three largest producers in Jingxi, in an area known for production of bauxite and alumina, the raw material for aluminium.
China's rapid growth has caused many environmental problems, and prompted growing concern among citizens about health problems caused by pollution.
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