Clashes at Hong Kong pro-democracy protests after police barricades removed
Angry crowds, opposed to pro-democracy protests that have paralyzed parts of Hong Kong for two weeks, tried Monday to charge barricades used by demonstrators.
Angry crowds, opposed to pro-democracy protests that have paralyzed parts of Hong Kong for two weeks, tried Monday to charge barricades used by demonstrators.
A roundup of global reports
Skirmishes broke out in Hong Kong today between pro-democracy demonstrators and groups opposed to them, heightening tensions after weeks of largely peaceful protest.
Early Monday morning police moved back numerous protest barriers in order to clear space for cars to begin moving through key streets in the financial district, The Associated Press reports.
Students have been demonstrating for more than two weeks, demanding the open nomination of chief executive candidates for elections who aren鈥檛 鈥減re-approved鈥� by Beijing. On Sunday, Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying called the pro-democracy movement 鈥渙ut of control鈥� and said the student protests had 鈥渁lmost zero chance鈥� of changing Beijing鈥檚 stance on Hong Kong.
Officers this morning said their intention in removing some barricades was not to curb the protests themselves.
Hours after the fences were brought down or pushed back, hundreds of people wearing blue ribbons marched to a main protest zone near government offices in opposition to the pro-democracy protests. Scuffles between the groups broke out, reports The Washington Post.
Many residents are fed up with the mostly young protesters, either because they are tired of the congestion that鈥檚 built up downtown after weeks of protest, or because they are pro-Beijing, reports The New York Times. Those who turned out today against the ongoing protests told students they were pawns of the West and accused them of not being 鈥渞eal Chinese,鈥� The Washington Post reports.
But even if the government or those opposed to the protests are able to send students packing 鈥� an unlikely outcome any time soon given the renewed frustrations following today鈥檚 confrontations 鈥� the students鈥� message is a big problem for Beijing, reports 海角大神鈥檚 Peter Ford.
Tens of thousands of protesters have occupied busy roads outside the city center, as well as in two busy shopping districts. The government canceled talks with student protesters on Friday after the youth leaders called for renewed civil disobedience.聽