China has made representations to the Italian government after
at least 10 Chinese nationals were injured during a clash with
local riot police in Milan on Thursday, the Foreign Ministry said
on Friday.
"We hope the Italian side deals fairly with the issue and
seriously considers the justified demands of local Chinese
nationals and takes real measures to protect their legitimate
rights and interests," a statement on the ministry's website
said.
The conflict was sparked by a dispute over parking between a
local Chinese woman and a police officer. The woman was detained
after the argument turned into a physical clash, according to the
Foreign Ministry.
The situation escalated when hundreds of local Chinese protested
over the detention of the woman, which led to the conflict.
Of the Chinese nationals injured in the clash, five have been
released from hospital after treatment, the ministry said.
The scuffle broke out in the city's busy Chinatown area.
Protesters reportedly threw plastic bottles and rubbish bins at
police armed with batons.
"It is not right for a violation of road regulations to cause
this," Milan's mayor Letizia Moratti was quoted as saying. " This
cannot be justified."
Protesters complained about the police violence, with some
saying one of the demonstrators had been pistol whipped.
The ministry said in the statement that the situation had
eased.
(China Daily April 14, 2007)
