HONG KONG, May 18 (Reuters) - Scuffles broke out on Monday between pro-democracy and pro-government legislators in Hong Kong in a row over procedures with the leadership of a key committee at stake.

Security guards were seen carrying two pro-democracy legislators out of the chamber in chaotic scenes.

The house committee's role is to scrutinise bills before a second reading in the legislative council and has built up a backlog after failing to elect a chairperson since late last year. The backlog includes one bill that would criminalise abuse of China's national anthem. (Reporting by Jessie Pang and James Pomfret; Writing by Marius Zaharia; Editing by Himani Sarkar)