Clashes over Hong Kong food stalls

Over 90 people have been injured, and 61 arrested, following clashes in Hong Kong`s Mong Kok district, police say.

Violence erupted overnight as police cleared illegal food stalls set up on a busy junction for Lunar New Year celebrations, reports BBC.

Angry protesters threw bricks and bottles at police, while police used batons and pepper spray and fired two warning shots into the air.

Police said dozens of officers and four journalists were among those hurt.

Nine women and 52 men have been arrested, all aged between 15 and 70. They are suspected of offences including unlawful assembly, assaulting police and possession of offensive weapons.

Pictures from the scene showed protesters setting fire to bins and throwing bottles and rubbish at police.

It is the largest unrest in Hong Kong since massive pro-democracy street protests were held in 2014 - although some reports said Tuesday`s clashes appeared more violent than those in 2014, which were largely peaceful.

Chief Executive CY Leung condemned the unrest, saying Hong Kong "can never tolerate that and the police will spare no effort to arrest the rioters".

The rioters "threw bricks and other objects at police officers, including those who had already been injured and were lying on the ground", he added.