Copenhagen, Dec 15 - Danish police Tuesday said they arrested some 200 people and used tear gas overnight against a group of protestors at the UN climate conference in Copenhagen.

Most of the protesters were later released but five people remained in custody and could face charges for assaulting a police officer, police said.

Police intervened when protesters set fire to barricades in front of Christiania, a self-proclaimed free, autonomous section of the city.

The police also deployed a water cannon to extinguish the fire. The water cannon was recently bought for that purpose.

Police also seized several Molotov cocktails and fireworks during a search.

Christiania is a former army base, which since the 1970s has been a haven for the alternative movement in the Danish capital.

Denmark introduced special legislation prior to the UN summit allowing police to hold suspects without charge for up to 12 hours.

Since Saturday, police have arrested nearly 1,300 protestors at the climate change conference. Most have been released. (dpa)