POLICE in Hong Kong have used tear gas, pepper spray and high-pressure water hoses against thousands of protesters outside government buildings, in a bid to delay legislative action on a proposed extradition bill.

The bill has highlighted concerns over greater Chinese control and the erosion of civil liberties in the territory, as it would allow criminal suspects in Hong Kong to be sent away for trial in mainland China.

The overwhelmingly young crowd of demonstrators (pictured) filled nearby streets, overturning barriers and tussling with police outside the offices where the bill was due to be discussed. A Government statement said the session of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council was scheduled to begin at 11am but was “changed to a later time” yet to be decided.

The protests have prompted Hong Kong’s biggest political crisis since pro-democracy demonstrations closed parts of the city centre back in 2014.

MEANWHILE in Moscow, police and hundreds of protesters squared up in an unauthorised march against police abuse, in the wake of the high-profile detention of Russian investigative journalist Ivan Golunov.

More than 20 demonstrators (pictured) were detained. The rally comes a day after police back-peddled and dropped charges against Golunov, who was charged with drug dealing just last week.

The case was dropped on Monday due to a lack of evidence after a public outcry, despite police claiming to have found drugs in Golunov’s apartment.

ELSEWHERE UN experts are concerned Sudan is sliding into a “human rights abyss” in the aftermath of the Sudanese security forces deadly break-up of the main protest sit-in at the capital Khartoum.

The experts called for an independent investigation into violations against peaceful protesters in Sudan. In a statement the experts said they were alarmed by the reporters of numerous deaths since June 3, when security forces violently dispersed the protesters outside the military headquarters.

The demonstrators are demanding the military hand over power to civilian rule, but the generals have refused.

AND FINALLY, 49 people have died with 14 missing since heavy rainfall hit southern China this month.

China’s disaster reduction committee said more than 7,000 houses have collapsed as well as 300,000 people have been evacuated, with an estimated economic loss of 10 billion yuan (£1.1 million). Floods, landslides and mudslides have affected more than 4.5 million people.