Riot police in Cambodia clashed with hundreds of anti-government protesters in the capital on Sunday, leaving several people injured.

The protesters were demanding the release of 23 other demonstrators who were arrested during a crackdown earlier this month.

When police blocked them from entering the capital's Freedom Park, protesters hurled rocks, water bottles and shoes toward security forces, who hit back with batons and tasers.

An Associated Press reporter saw at least two injured protesters and police detain two others arrested during a 15 minute clash.

The government imposed a ban on rallies and street marches in the capital, Phnom Penh, after a wave of anti-government protests in early January that posed the biggest challenge in years to the authoritarian rule of Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has ruled the country for almost three decades.

Sam Rainsy, head of the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, said he won't give up his movement's struggle until Hun Sen resigns and calls new elections. The opposition says elections in July were rigged and cheated them of victory.

Last week, police briefly detained 11 activists who were trying to hand over a petition to foreign embassies urging them to help free the 23 protesters.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/cambodian-riot-police-clash-with-anti-government-protesters-1.2511490

AP

Same text here

http://asiancorrespondent.com/118920/cambodian-police-clash-with-protesters/

By Licadho - Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights

On the morning of January 26, 2014, at least 400 state forces, including military police and riot police armed with guns and electric batons, as well as municipal security guards and thugs wielding slingshots, rocks and batons, prevented a gathering organised by 9 unions and associations including IDEA, CATU, CITA, CICA, CFSWF, NTUC, BWTUC, FTUWC and CYN. Organizers planned the gathering to demand the release of 23 workers and rights defenders arrested earlier this month, a rise in the minimum wage to $160 a month, an end to violence against human rights defenders, and justice for the deaths during the Jan 2 and 3 clashes. So far, at least eight people are known to have been injured during intermittent clashes between security guards and civilians. Two people believed to be undercover authority agents were beaten by the crowd, while two people have reportedly been arrested during the clashes.

Photos at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.758521580843618.1073741883.240609012634880&type=1