Hong Kong police pepper spray pro-democracy protesters

Eight people have been arrested in Hong Kong after scuffles broke out between police and demonstrators during a pro-democracy protest.

Television footage showed clashes in the shopping district of Mong Kok as police officers wielded batons and used pepper spray to disperse dozens of protesters who were trying to block traffic on a major road.

Five of those arrested were accused of assaulting officers, a spokesman said.

The government's contentious leadership election roadmap, which was released on Wednesday, has prompted several protests.

The plan conforms to a ruling from Beijing in August that all candidates should be vetted before a public vote in 2017, which sparked mass protests towards the end of last year.

Critics have slammed Beijing's framework for the vote as "fake democracy".

Police said that the most recent scuffles broke out late on Sunday at around midnight, and confirmed pepper spray was used.

Protesters were angry with officers after they took away two demonstrators who had been arguing with a government supporter, according to local media.

Dozens of protesters then briefly blocked a road and stood in front of a police van.