Originally posted by the Voice of America.
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                   Hong Kong Government Withdraws Riot Police

   by VOA News

   Hong Kong authorities say they are withdrawing riot police from city
   streets as pro-democracy protests appear to be calming down.

   In a statement Monday, the government also called on demonstrators to
   leave protest areas peacefully to allow for a resumption of public
   transport services.

   Thousands of people continued the demonstrations around the main Hong
   Kong government building, ignoring messages from student and
   pro-democracy leaders to retreat for fear that the police might fire
   rubber bullets.

   One student protester called on the government to address days of
   demonstrations.

   "I really hope that the government can come out to face the people. We
   have experienced five days of boycott of classes and two nights
   occupying here, we are not here to make disorder but to urge the
   government to face the people and students," said Jamma, a student
   protester.

   Many in the crowd are chanting slogans from beneath surgical masks to
   protect against further chemical spray.

   The clashes came shortly after Hong Kong's Chief Executive Leung
   Chun-ying said the government will launch a new round of talks on
   electoral reform. He gave no timeframe for consultations.

   The demonstrators are part of a mass civil disobedience movement
   calling for less political intervention from Beijing in the former
   British colony.

   Pro-democracy activists were outraged after China ruled all candidates
   for the 2017 vote must be approved by a pro-Beijing committee.

   After months of threatening a massive sit-in, organizers of "Occupy
   Central with Love and Peace'' said early Sunday that the occupation of
   the streets outside government headquarters had officially begun.

   The announcement came hours after riot police in Hong Kong arrested
   dozens of student protesters who forced their way into government
   headquarters late Saturday.

   Authorities used pepper spray to disperse the protesters and hauled
   away those who refused to leave the square.

   Outside the grounds, a large crowd of fellow students chanted at police
   and demanded that they stop arresting their comrades.

   Police said several people suffered minor injuries in the clashes.

   Thousands of university students abandoned classes all week to take
   part in the pro-democracy campaign.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/hong-kong-protests/2465767.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/hong-kong-protests/2465767.html