Chinese policeman shoots five

A policeman in China has shot dead one man and seriously wounded four others in a row over a minor traffic accident.

It follows a string of shootings involving police which have led to growing public outrage at the often brutal behaviour exhibited by local officials in the country.

There have been a number of recent shootings involving police

In the latest incident an argument erupted after the officer's wife knocked a melon stall with her car in a market in Kunming, south-west China, state media said.

When she arrived home and told her husband she had been insulted, he rushed to the market where a scuffle broke out.

The officer, Fang Jianyun, then pulled out his service revolver and opened fire.

One market official was shot dead and two others injured. Two bystanders were also hit, according to reports.

It is rare that such incidents get mentioned in China's tightly controlled state-run media, but this latest shooting has received wide coverage and condemnation.

Reports said Mr Fang was disarmed and taken to a police station.

Death sentence

The shooting comes just a month after another policeman shot three people dead and wounded two others in central China in a dispute over a 12.5 yuan ($1.50) water bill.

In the most notorious case so far a policeman in northern China was sentenced to death this month after he shot and killed a van driver following a minor traffic incident.

Before pulling his gun, the policeman is reported to have yelled: ''I'm with the police and I don't think anyone here can challenge me.''