Hong Kong riot police used pepper spray and baton charged crowds of pro-democracy protesters as tension escalated.
A pre-dawn clearance of a major protest zone in the Chinese-controlled financial hub took place.
Crowds of protesters headed to the Mong Kok district after work and school to try to reclaim sections of an intersection that police had cleared in a surprise raid early today.
Hundreds of protesters tried to break through police lines and they used open umbrellas to shield themselves from pepper spray.
Police used batons and scuffled violently with activists.
Police hauled off several protesters as others shouted insults and chanted "open the road".
The protesters, led by students, have been demanding China's Communist Party rulers live up to constitutional promises.
The promises were to grant full democracy to the former British colony which returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
Before dawn, hundreds of police staged their biggest raid yet on a pro-democracy protest camp.
Police charged down student-led activists who had held the intersection in one of their main protest zones for more than three weeks.
The operation came while many protesters were asleep in dozens of tents or beneath giant, blue-striped tarpaulin sheets.
The raid was a gamble for the 28,000-strong police force who have come under criticism for aggressive clearance operations.
The clearance operations have been carried out with tear gas and baton charges and for the beating of a handcuffed protester on Wednesday.
Storming into the intersection with helmets, riot shields and batons at the ready from four directions, the 800 officers caught the protesters by surprise.
Many retreated without resisting.
With more protesters streaming to the area, authorities closed the nearby underground train station, media reported.
Police raised red flags, warning the protesters not to charge.
