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Hundreds of Taiwanese students have occupied government headquarters to protest at a trade deal with China.

Police used water cannon and dragged out students one by one, clearing the building by dawn on Monday.

Close to 60 people were arrested and more than 100 hurt, reports said.

The protesters say the agreement with China would hurt Taiwan’s economy and leave it vulnerable to pressure from Beijing.

Another group of students and activists have occupied Taiwan’s parliament since early last week.

The students wants more scrutiny over all future dealings with China, including any trade agreements.

Hundreds of Taiwanese students have occupied government headquarters to protest at a trade deal with China

Hundreds of Taiwanese students have occupied government headquarters to protest at a trade deal with China (photo Reuters)

They also want the current deal – which would allow the two sides to invest more freely in each other’s services markets – to be scrapped.

The governing Kuomintang party says it is determined to ratify the deal with Beijing, which it says will boost the economy and create jobs.

China formally regards Taiwan as a part of its territory, despite the island governing itself for six decades.

The protests began early last week after ruling party’s lawmakers said a joint committee had completed its review of the pact, which was signed in June 2013 but has not yet been ratified by lawmakers.

Students broke into the legislature late on Tuesday and have since defied police efforts to evict them, using barricades made of furniture.

On Friday thousands of people rallied to support the students, and the opposition Democratic Progressive Party has also backed them.

On Sunday, President Ma Ying-jeou said that the occupation of parliament broke the law, adding: “I must say that [the pact] is completely for the sake of Taiwan’s economic future.”

Late on Sunday, some protesters pushed past riot police to storm the government headquarters, pulling down barbed wire and using ladders to access second-floor offices.

Violent clashes erupted as police moved to restore order.

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Thousands of students took London streets today to demonstrate against tuition fees and spending cuts.

Hundreds of police officers lined the route as over 2,500 demonstrators started a march to voice their anger over funding cuts and plans to treble tuition fees.

A breakaway group of protesters tried to set up tents in Trafalgar Square, but police were quick to remove the tents and arrest those who had brought them.

Students carried placards which read “Scrap Tuition Fees” and “Free Education”.

Thousands of students took London streets today to demonstrate against tuition fees and spending cuts

Thousands of students took London streets today to demonstrate against tuition fees and spending cuts

 

There were chants of “No ifs, no buts, no education cuts” and “David Cameron **** off back to Eton” while protesters slowly made their way through the streets.

There were estimates that 10,000 people would attend the march proved to be an exaggeration, as a policeman said he thought there were around 2,500 demonstrators.

News and police helicopters hovered overhead and onlookers lined the streets as the protest made its way through London.

Workers gathered at office windows to watch the demonstration, waving and smiling at those on the roads below. Music blared from speakers while protesters appeared to chat amicably with riot police.

Officers on foot carrying batons and riot helmets walked alongside the protesters.

Students carried placards which read "Scrap Tuition Fees" and "Free Education"

Students carried placards which read "Scrap Tuition Fees" and "Free Education"

A group split off from the march and quickly made a makeshift camp in Trafalgar Square. Anti-capitalist Occupy London activists put up 20 tents at the foot of Nelson’s Column.

However, police moved swiftly to arrest those responsible and remove the tents they had attempted to put up, clearing the square within an hour.

Michael Chessum, lead organiser of the demonstration, yesterday accused police chiefs of acting in a “political and cynical” manner.

“What the police have done is extremely political and a cynical attempt to put people off from coming to a national demonstration,” Michael Chessum said.

“What they are doing is trying to put people off and pre-criminalising the process.

“They are ramping up the pressure and in the process being completely irresponsible.

“They have made it more likely that trouble will occur.”

Michael Chessum said that students are protesting particularly over the Government’s White Paper on higher education, which they claim will lead to the privatization of the sector.

Protests were led through central areas of London by the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts starting from midday.

Scotland Yard Commander Simon Pountain said that around 4,000 officers would be on duty thanks to mutual aid provided by other forces.

“We know the overwhelming majority of students are law abiding and we hope this will be a peaceful event,” Simon Pountain said.

“We certainly don’t see it as inevitable that we will witness a repeat of last year’s scenes of violence and criminal damage.

“However, it would be negligent if we did not plan a response to the small minority who may be intent on disruption and may not intend to be peaceful.”

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