Police fire water cannon at Parliament protesters

Police fired water cannon at anti-government protesters outside Parliament on Tuesday as tensions mounted on the first day of a two-day session to deliberate charter-change motions. At 2.25pm, volunteer protest guards attempted to remove a barrier of barbed wire and cement blocks erected by security forces.

Police issued warnings and then opened fire on the protester guards with water cannon. Speaking through loudhailers, police then warned protesters to stop stay back 50 metres from the Parliament building. Some protest guards responded to the water cannon by throwing smoke bombs towards the police.

Protesters wear raincoats to protect themselves from police water cannon laced with chemical irritant. Those hit were forced to retreat to wash their faces and eyes.