12,000 in China protest chemical plant

Riot police are still on watch over a square in this port city where thousands of protesters scuffled with police in a demonstration over toxic chemical pollution. The show of force prompted authorities to apparently meet demonstrators demand to shut down a local petrochemical factory.

The large protest highlighted Chinese citizens' increasing boldness in demanding action from the totalitarian government, particularly on environmental issues, even though the government rarely gives in.

However, a statement posted Monday on the website of the State Council, China's Cabinet, said the Dalian Communist Party and city government decided late Sunday to "stop the Dalian PX project immediately and relocate the plant." The statement had been taken down one hour later.

Demonstrators were worried about the chemical para-xylene, which is widely used in the production of polyester. Short-term exposure can cause eye, nose or throat irritation in humans, and chronic exposure can affect the central nervous system and cause death.

The scuffles broke out as more than 12,000 protesters demanding that the plant, which produces para-xylene, be moved after a tropical storm raised fears of a toxic spill, state-run Xinhua News Agency said. No injuries were reported in the confrontations.

Calls to relocate the plant grew after waves from Tropical Storm Muifa broke a dike guarding it last week and raised fears that floodwaters could release toxic chemicals. There was no actual chemical leak, Xinhua said.

Despite the apparent success of the protest, censors quickly began deleting references to it on social networking sites -- a usual practice to prevent demonstrations from spreading.

A video posted on the microblogging site Weibo showed the city's top official, Tang Jun, standing on a police van trying to appease the crowd. Xinhua said Tang and Mayor Li Wancai promised to move the plant out of the city, but some protesters refused to budge until a timetable was given.