Pro-democracy protesters clash with anti-protest residents in Hong Kong

Hong Kong, Oct 3 (IANS/EFE) Pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong Friday scuffled with those opposing their movement in two of the four districts where the protesters have been gathered for almost a week.

The altercations occurred in the crowded shopping area of Mong Konk and in Causeway Bay frequented by tourists from the Chinese mainland.

Witnesses said the clashes broke out when anti-protest residents began to dismantle the tents and barricades put up in the streets by the protesters, who are demanding the government implement universal suffrage in municipal elections in 2017, and the removal of Hong Kong chief executive Leung Chun-ying.

One of the students, who identified herself as Cynthia, said the the anti-protestors causing the trouble were paid government agitators brought in from outside.

"They're people paid by the government. They're not from here (because) they don't speak Cantonese, which is the dialect spoken in Hong Kong," she said.

On Thursday, the government offered to negotiate with the protesters.

Leung, however, said that he would not resign, adding he will continue to work for promoting Hong Kong's constitutional reforms which aim at universal suffrage to elect the region's next chief executive in 2017.

--IANS/EFE

bb/vip/vm