Hundreds of Buddhist monks from opposing factions of the main Buddhist sect in South Korea have fought a pitched battle around a temple in the capital, Seoul.

About one-thousand monks forced their way through barricades in an effort to oust their rivals from the Chogye Temple, the headquarters of the sect.

Punches and kicks were exchanged, rocks and firebombs thrown, and water hoses used.

A large contingent of riot police was on hand, but a police spokesman said they would not intervene unless the violence got out of control.

The incident was the latest in a series of clashes between the two Buddhist factions.

Violence erupted earlier this month over the election of a chief administrator for the sect.