PRAGUE • Hundreds of demonstrators clashed with riot police in Prague on Sunday in a protest against social distancing rules and government measures such as wearing face masks to stem the most acute spread of Covid-19 in Europe.

Police used tear gas, water cannon and an armoured personnel carrier to disperse the crowd of some 2,000 protesters who assembled at the city's Old Town Square.

Some people, mostly hockey and football fans, refused to leave after the authorities ended the demonstration, and used small explosive devices against the officers.

About 100 people were arrested after the protest, and 20 people were injured.

The rally was legal on the conditions that there would not be more than 500 people and that protesters followed social distancing rules and wore face masks.

The protesters who violated the government rules should be punished "harshly", Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis wrote in a Facebook post.

In a separate post, Mr Babis urged people to stay at home as much as possible as this week would be key in the country's fight against the renewed outbreak.

The Czech Republic, which was one of Europe's most successful nations in handling the pandemic in the spring, is now facing the continent's worst spread of Covid-19.

The government has shut schools, restaurants and bars, and mandated the wearing of face masks in public spaces.

BLOOMBERG