China seeks police help to combat crime

BEIJING  – China has ordered police to identify and resolve conflicts before they boil over as part of a “strike hard” campaign aimed at social tensions blamed for a recent wave of violent crime.A series of attacks have shocked China, including five assaults at schools that killed at least 17 youngsters and wounded more than 50, and have forced authorities to confront violent crime, word of which spreads quickly among worried Chinese by cellphone and the Internet. (AP)