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Clashes have erupted in Hong Kong as protesters attempted to reclaim their cleared camp in the Mong Kok district.
Police charge into a crowd of pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong's Mongkok district. #Photo by
Alex_Ogle</a> <a href="http://t.co/v1SaK4bnqa">pic.twitter.com/v1SaK4bnqa</a></p>— Agence France-Presse (AFP) November 28, 2014
During the standoff riot police charged and used pepper spray to disperse the crowd, who defended themselves with umbrellas.
"
siuying</a>: Meanwhile in Hong Kong, Tactical Unit is deployed against regular folks who just “shopping” tonight <a href="https://t.co/UbfEku20Ay">https://t.co/UbfEku20Ay</a>"</p>— 忧忧芳草心 (yyfcxo) November 28, 2014
The largely peaceful demonstrations turned tense after a group tried to burst through a police cordon on Argyle Street.
Several of the pro-democracy protesters were arrested during the scuffles.
A Hong Kong pro-democracy protester shouts out as he is arrested in Mongkok this evening
AFP</a> <a href="http://t.co/yxiLzWma2p">pic.twitter.com/yxiLzWma2p</a></p>— Alex Ogle (Alex_Ogle) November 28, 2014
Police had removed the camp in the financial district of Mong Kok on Wednesday, arresting more than a hundred people including student leaders Joshua Wong and Lester Shum.
Hong Kong police cleared protesters from a busy shopping area. Hours later, they were back http://t.co/nyPk7xrwYS pic.twitter.com/iLqsrHjoJa
— New York Times World (@nytimesworld) November 26, 2014
The activists are calling for open nominations for the Chinese-controlled city’s next leadership election in 2017. Under current rules Beijing will pre-screen the candidates.
Amnesty International warned against heavy handed policing, saying that excessive use of force would only inflame the protests.