Taiwan students storm government headquarters
Hundreds of students have stormed the Taiwanese government's headquarters in protest at a deal that will bring closer trade ties with China
Taiwanese police have clashed with hundreds of students who had occupied government headquarters to protest at a proposed trade deal with China.
Police used water cannon and dragged out students one-by-one, clearing the building by dawn on Monday.
The students had used a vehicle to knock down barbed wire gates outside the offices in central Taipei.
The students say the government is jeopardising Taiwan's independence by pursuing closer ties with China.
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.
Trading partnersOther protesting students have been occupying the parliament chamber since Tuesday.
On Friday thousands of people rallied to support those students who had been occupying parliament.
Police tried to dislodge the students on Wednesday but failed to breach barricades made using furniture.
The opposition Democratic Progressive Party has backed the protests.
China is Taiwan's biggest trading partner and in recent years ties between the two have improved.
The two sides split at the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949.
Earlier this year, the two countries held their first direct talks.
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