Baton-wielding riot police cleared Taiwan's Cabinet offices of angry protesters opposed to a trade pact with China as tensions escalated over the island's ties with the communist mainland.
Authorities said they arrested 58 protesters and 137 were injured, including 24 who had to be taken to hospital. The crackdown came five days after students occupied the nearby legislature to protest against the ruling party's decision to renege on a promised review of the trade agreement.
China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949 and Beijing has long sought to reassert its control over the island.
March 19, 2014: Students occupy the Taiwanese parliament building to protest against the ruling Kuomintang party ratifying a controversial trade agreement with ChinaGettyMarch 20, 2014: Students barricade the doors to prevent the police from coming inGettyMarch 23, 2014: Student protesters occupy Taiwan's legislature and executive yuan, a branch of government in charge of administrative affairsGettyMarch 23, 2014: Police talk to student protesters inside the executive yuanGettyMarch 23, 2014: Student protesters pull down fences outside the executive yuanGettyMarch 24, 2014: Chaotic scenes as riot police begin to remove students from Executive Yuan PlazaGettyMarch 23, 2014: A riot policeman vomits after clashing with student protestersGettyMarch 24, 2014: Riot police wade into a crowd of students protesting outside the executive yuanGettyMarch 24, 2014: Riot police clash with student protesters outside the executive yuanGettyMarch 24, 2014: Police use a water cannon to disperse demonstrators during a protest against a trade pact with mainland ChinaReutersMarch 24, 2014: Student protesterssoaked by police water cannonGettyMarch 24, 2014: Students protesters barricade the stairs that lead to the legislature hall of parliamentGettyMarch 25, 2014: Anti-media Post-its are pasted on a van of a pro-government TV stationGetty
