Hong Kong police break up protest, clear tunnel

Police in Hong kong have clashed with pro-democracy protesters as they tried to clear an underpass near the city government headquarters.

Hundreds of police officers wearing riot gear used pepper spray and batons to disperse the protesters, arresting dozens of people in the process.

At a briefing before the clashes, police said they had to clear Lung Wo Road as it was a major thoroughfare.

Demonstrators have occupied parts of Hong Hong for more than two weeks.

The protesters, a mix of students and a pro-democracy group called Occupy Central, are demanding fully free elections in the next vote for the territories leader.

China, which has control over Hong Kong, says residents can vote but it will vet which candidate are eligible to stand.

The BBC's Juliana Liu in Hong Kong says violent clashes have been a rare sight since the evening that tear gas was first used at the beginning of the pro-democracy protests.

BBC