Hospital death sparks China riot

About 2,000 people protested outside a hospital in southwest China after a boy died after mistakenly drinking pesticide, a human rights group says.

Doctors told Xiong Hongwei's grandfather he did not have enough money for treatment, the group said.

After the boy died protesters attacked the Guangan No.2 People's Hospital in Sichuan province. At least 10 people were injured in clashes with police.

An official statement cleared the hospital of any wrongdoing.

"The hospital offered the appropriate emergency treatment to the boy before accepting any fees," the statement said.

"The boy's grandfather had paid 123 yuan ($15.6, £8) to the hospital, instead of the full 639 yuan fee, after the boy had died."

Smashed windows

China is facing a growing healthcare crisis as medical fees continue to rise beyond the means of many of the nation's rural poor.

A local telephone operator told AP news agency that demonstrators smashed windows and equipment, forcing the six-storey hospital to close.

"This morning, I saw many armed policemen on the streets," she said. "They were using loudspeakers to tell the people not to believe rumours and to trust the government."

The Hong Kong-based Information Centre for Human Rights and Democracy said the grandfather of Xiong Hongwei, who was aged three, was told to fetch more money by the hospital after his son accidentally drank farming chemicals from a soft drinks bottle.

Beijing dog policy sparks protest

At least 200 people have protested in the Chinese capital, Beijing, against restrictions on pet dog ownership.

Demonstrators holding stuffed toy animals said new rules limiting families in the capital to owning one small dog each were inhumane.

They said a ban on larger breeds would lead to dogs being confiscated and culled. In August, a mass cull of dogs caused uproar in south-west China.

The 'one dog' policy was announced as part of a campaign to combat rabies.

The protest was watched by many police, who demonstrators say detained 18 people.

One protester said the rule that pet dogs could be no taller than 35 cm was nonsense.

"We hope the world will support us in stopping the meaningless hurting and killing of dogs," she said, adding, "the height of a dog doesn't make them guilty or fierce!"

Rising wages have led to a boom in dog ownership, but high fees have meant most dogs are unregistered and unvaccinated.