Angry crowds have attacked government buildings in south-west China in protest at the death of a teenage girl.

Reports said several thousand people took part in the riots, setting fire to police stations and cars in Wengan county in the province of Guizhou.

Local residents were angered after a police inquiry concluded that the girl, found dead in a river earlier in June, had committed suicide.

Her family accused the son of a local official of raping and killing her.

Order 'restored'

"Local residents were very angry about the injustice exercised by local authorities," one resident, who is a local official, told Reuters news agency.

"About 10,000 people rushed to the site and totally burned down the county party office building, and burned other offices in the county government.

"They also burned about 20 vehicles, including police cars," the official said.

AFP news agency said riots had erupted on Saturday when the girl's uncle was pronounced dead in hospital after seeking justice for his niece.

It quoted locals saying he had been badly beaten - it is not clear by whom.

Chinese news reports said provincial leaders had gone to the area to deal with the unrest.

Xinhua news agency said order began to return after crowds dispersed early on Sunday morning local time.