DONGFANG, Hainan: More than 100 officials have been sent to restore peace between rival villagers following violent protests over a high school brawl.

Dongfang city government has deployed 12 work groups to calm the unrest in Gancheng township, where rioters damaged a municipal building and set fire to a police station, Wang Heshan, the city's Party chief, said yesterday.

At least two bystanders were injured.