Early on Wednesday morning, Hong Kong protesters attempted to hold their ground as police moved through to clear Lung Wo Road, a major east-west arterial road near government headquarters.

The security forces - wearing riot gear and armed with pepper spray and batons - sought to clear a tunnel in the main street, which had been blocked since the previous day. In their latest act of civil disobedience, protesters had congested the underpass with concrete slabs and metal barricades, among other objects.

Local media and eye witnesses reported that violence had broken out between police and demonstrators, with accounts of police punching and kicking some of the participants. Both sides reported injuries.

Hong Kong police later released a statement, saying that the protesters' "advancing against police cordon line even with their arms raised is not a peaceful act."

At least 45 people, including 37 men and 8 women, were detained for obstructing the police.

Wednesday saw some of the worst violence since the pro-democracy rallies began three weeks ago.

A recent decision by Beijing to vet all chief executive candidates for the 2017 elections angered many in Hong Kong, who are demanding the Chinese government reverse the law and give them universal suffrage. Supporters of the mass protest movement, led in large part by students, are also calling for the resignation of the current chief executive, Leung Chin-Ying.

Pro-Beijing paper: 'stability is bliss'

On Wednesday, the front-page editorial of the Chinese Communist Party's newspaper, the People's Daily, accused the demonstrators of "exacerbating disorder and turmoil" and provoking "more severe illegal activities" by continuing their protests.

"Stability is bliss and turmoil brings havoc," the paper said, adding that the protesters were "doomed to fail."

The message reflected a similar statement by Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying, who has said there was "almost zero chance" that Beijing would change its rules for the 2017 vote.

kms/rc (AP, AFP, Reuters)