'Critical moment' for Hong Kong protests after new clashes

The police attempted to clear a main thoroughfare using batons, a move that protesters criticised as being unprovoked and dangerous

Pro-democracy activists today accused police of using excessive force against protesters after violent clashes in Hong Kong, as a senior politician said weeks of rallies have reached a "critical moment".

Dozens of police with shields and helmets pushed into a crowd of demonstrators gathered at barricades in the Mongkok district early today, striking at them repeatedly with batons.

Twenty people were injured in a fourth night of violence after three weeks of largely peaceful pro-democracy rallies and road blockades in three busy districts.

Some demonstrators were carried away on stretchers and others treated for head wounds, fractures and bruising.

Police are trying to clear a main thoroughfare, Nathan Road, occupied by demonstrators. They said in a statement today that they had used "minimum force" as protesters "suddenly attempted to charge" their cordon lines.

However protesters told AFP they had done nothing to provoke officers.

"We believe police have violated the principle of using minimum force to deal with peaceful demonstration," James Hon, of protest group the League in Defence of Hong Kong's Freedom, told AFP.

He said batons used in this way could cause serious injuries or even deaths.

Hon's group was formed by professionals concerned about the erosion of civil liberties in the semi-autonomous Chinese city. Protest leaders, religious figures and lawmakers were also due to speak at the Mongkok rally site later today in response to police actions.

Protesters are calling for fully free elections after Beijing insisted that candidates in a 2017 vote for the city's leader must be vetted by a committee expected to be loyal to China.

But Hong Kong's leader Leung Chun-ying has warned that Chinese authorities have no intention of backing down.

Rallies have seen tens of thousands take to the streets several times. Although numbers are dwindling, protesters still occupy key roads in the city.

Hong Kong's government had confirmed yesterday that it would open talks with student leaders on Tuesday.

The city's deputy leader Carrie Lam told reporters the talks would be focused on constitutional reform, with both sides allowed to bring five members to the meeting.

But the government is unlikely to yield to protesters' core demands -- the resignation of Chief Executive Leung Chun-Ying and free leadership elections for the city in 2017.

Finance secretary John Tsang said today the protests had reached a "critical moment" and urged the demonstrators to retreat.

"I was young before and I have taken part in various student movements," he wrote on his blog.

"Retreating is not an easy decision. It takes a lot of bravery. I still believe that you can take the courage to make right decisions at this critical moment."

Increased force has been deployed in the last few days as officers attempt to clear blockaded roads.

Some protesters at Mongkok today wore hard hats and makeshift protective gear fashioned out of household items including baby mats.

The government information service said 20 people involved in protest activities had been injured between 10pm and 6am overnight from yesterday to today-- but would not specify how many were demonstrators or police, the extent of the injuries, or if they all took place in the Mongkok area.