Chinese authorities have arrested a commander who reportedly ordered police officers to open fire on a village protest this past week.

An excerpt:

The arrest comes after officials broke several days' silence to say that three villagers were shot dead in the protest, in Guangdong province.

Local residents have alleged that up to 20 people were killed.

If this is true, this could be China's deadliest use of force against protesters since Tiananmen Square.

A special investigation into the incident has been launched.

Protests against corruption, pollution and land seizures have become increasingly common in rural China.

'Chaotic mob'

Police in riot gear were seen patrolling the village on Sunday, and residents said they feared arrest.

Officials quoted by the state news agency said more than 300 people took part in Tuesday's protest in the village of Dongzhou.

At the urging of a few "instigators", the demonstrators reportedly attacked the police with petrol bombs, knives and dynamite.

Guangdong province, which butts up against Hong Kong, has been the site of earlier unrest. Here's another BBC story on that: Chinese village democracy skin deep.

"It became dark when the chaotic mob began to throw explosives at the police," the report said. "Police were forced to open fire in alarm."

Three people died instantly in the police firing and five others were wounded, according to Xinhua.

But villagers say only fireworks, not explosives, were thrown at police.