Tiananmen Square protest death toll 'was 10,000'

[muriel_volestrangler]

The Chinese army crackdown on the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests killed at least 10,000 people, according to newly-released UK documents.

The figure was given in a secret diplomatic cable from then British ambassador to China, Alan Donald.

The original source was a friend of a member of China's State Council, the envoy says.

Previous estimates of the deaths in the pro-democracy protests ranged from several hundred to more than 1,000.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-42465516

I think I can quote the cable without breaking the copyright restrictions:

The envoy wrote: "Students understood they were given one hour to leave square but after five minutes APCs attacked.

"Students linked arms but were mown down including soldiers. APCs then ran over bodies time and time again to make 'pie' and remains collected by bulldozer. Remains incinerated and then hosed down drains.

"Four wounded girl students begged for their lives but were bayoneted."

Mr Donald added that "some members of the State Council considered that civil war is imminent".