Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


US on Hong Kong Protests: 'No More Violence on Both Sides'

Nike Ching

   VOA Mandarin Service, Ken Bredemeier, Chris Hannas and Megan Duzor
   contributed to this article.

   The United States is calling for calm on all sides in Hong Kong, as
   protests took a violent turn in recent days and U.S. officials noted
   signs of softening among Hong Kong government and pro-democracy
   demonstrators.

   Hong Kong police fired volleys of tear gas to break up anti-government
   protests on Saturday, as protesters threw petrol bombs and bricks.

   "We can't sit quiet for more violence," a senior State Department
   official told VOA on Tuesday.

   "No more violence on both sides," either from the police or from the
   protesters, said the official. "Certainly, not any large-scale response
   through violence."

.