Hundreds arrested for spreading doomsday rumours

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Hundreds of people have been arrested in China for allegedly spreading doomsday rumours.

Police collected and destroyed leaflets passed out by what they say are members of the "Almighty God" cult... and detained suspected members for spreading rumours of the apocalypse.

(SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) POLICE OFFICER CAO WEI SAYING:

"This one says I must pass it to 100 people today or something bad will happen to me. The cult spreads rumours like this."

Members of the group believe Friday December 21st marks the end of the world as the Mayan "Long Count" calendar finishes a 5200 year cycle.

Police say the group also calls for an end to Communist Party rule.

While the Chinese government has zero tolerance for opposition, they have had difficulty cracking down on messages that are spread quickly over the internet.