Occupy Oakland protesters clash with police

Police and protesters supporting the Occupy Wall Street movement on Thursday clashed downtown following a day of peaceful protests throughout Oakland. The confrontation began after protesters started a large bonfire in the middle of a downtown street. Dozens of police in riot gear moved in on hundreds of protesters as the flames leapt more than 15 feet in the air from several large metal and plastic trash bins that had been pushed together. Police warned protesters to clear out before firing several rounds of tear gas and "flash bang" grenades to clear the area. No injuries from the clashes were reported. Glass covered streets and sidewalks from windows of area businesses that were shattered. Shortly after the clash, police and protesters separated by only a few feet stared each other down in a tense standoff. A few dozen people sat on the ground right in front of officers, some with their heads bowed as if in prayer. There were scores of police in riot gear on the scene, about as many officers as demonstrators. The clash and subsequent standoff came only hours after Occupy Wall Street protesters declared victory after thousands of demonstrators shut down one of the nation''s busiest shipping ports late Wednesday, escalating a movement whose tactics had largely been limited to marches, rallies and tent encampments since it began in September.