Hundreds of migrant workers attacked and injured three policemen in Yuhuan county of Zhejiang province on Thursday.

Trouble started on Wednesday with an argument between a migrant worker, Zhang Zhongfu, and local government employees over his registration for a temporary residence permit.

The 34-year-old Sichuan resident said the clerks refused to register him because he had forgotten to carry his ID card. "The argument got heated they hit me on the head," Zhang said.

But police later said Zhang had got drunk and bumped his head against a wall. This angered Zhang and his fellow workers, who said police were trying to defend the government clerks.

Zhang and the other workers returned to the registration office on Thursday, and again a quarrel ensued. When police reached the spot, a few even threw rocks at the policemen, injuring three of them.

At least 23 workers were arrested. Hundreds of them gathered in front of the police station on Friday and Saturday, "asking for an explanation" and demanding the release of their fellow workers.

(Xinhua News Agency July 15, 2008)