HK police tear gas WTO protesters, detain 900

From Reuters, via The Star Online:

Hong Kong police fired volleys of tear gas on Saturday to repel hundreds of protesters trying to force their way into a building where world trade ministers were meeting.

“The protesters got very close to the building, they were standing just across the street,” a Reuters reporter said.

Fifty-four people were injured in the fighting, including at least five police officers, the government said. Most of the injured were South Korean farmers, who say free trade is ruining them.

Nine hundred protesters were detained, Police Commissioner Dick Lee told a late-night news conference. Asked if they would be arrested, he said “they will be handled according to the law.”

“At the moment, the majority of areas in Wanchai are under control,” Lee said. “Police will be taking all necessary action to restore order. We are fully confident the venue (trade meeting) can proceed as normal.”

Some 1,000 protesters were involved in the unrest, Lee said.

See also ” Tense stand-off at trade summit” from BBC

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