US police arrest dozens in anti-Wall Street protests

Most arrests were in the western United States, where the protests spread from New York.In Denver, 23 people were detained, Sergeant Mike Baker from the Colorado State Patrol told AFP, after 135 officers moved in early Friday to evict protesters camped out in front of the state Capitol building.There were some reports of brief scuffles, but no injuries.Ten others were arrested in Seattle, Washington, and another man in San Diego, California, police there said.In New York, a tense confrontation between the countrys biggest protest camp and police ended when plans were called off to forcibly clean the square.Hundreds of protesters have been camped out on the square for four weeks and the police order to evacuate during the cleaning was seen as a ruse to ensure their eviction.At the final hour, the owners of the Zuccotti Park plaza said they were delaying the cleaning and that protesters could stay for now.An impromptu celebration march to nearby Wall Street ended with scuffles and 14 arrests when protesters ignored police instructions to remain on the sidewalks so as not to impede traffic, the New York Police Department said.This marred what was seen as a surprise victory for the largely peaceful demonstrators, many of whom stayed up all night cleaning the plaza themselves, in order to demonstrate that there was no need for the owners to intervene.Brookfield Properties, which owns the site, believes they can work out an arrangement with the protesters that will ensure the park remains clean, safe, available for public use, Deputy Mayor Cas Holloway said.Protesters were jubilant, chanting, People united will never be defeatedIt is a big victory for us, said Senia Barragan, a spokeswoman for the demonstrators, explaining that the movement had been helped by the large numbers who came out to support them.