20 arrested as Occupy London, U.K. camp dismantled

LONDON - Police say 20 people were arrested as officers and bailiffs dismantled Occupy London's campsite outside the capital's famous St. Paul's Cathedral.

The City of London police said Tuesday that 20 people had been detained in the early hours as officers removed tents and equipment from the site. Demonstrators have been camped outside the 300-year-old church since mid-October.

The clearing follows a decision by Britain's High Court rejecting the protesters' challenge to an eviction order. It was of one of the longest-surviving encampments inspired by the New York protest against capitalist excess.

Giles Fraser, who resigned as canon chancellor of St Paul's in solidarity with the protesters, says it is "a sad day for the Church" to see demonstrators removed.

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  Bailiffs remove tenting from the Occupy London anti-capitalist protest camp outside St Paul's Cathedral in London, early Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012. (AP / Lewis Whyld)

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  An Occupy London protester is evicted from the Occupy London camp outside St Paul's Cathedral is cleared after bailiffs moved in, backed by police, to remove tents from the anti-capitalist protest camp in London, early Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012. (AP / Lewis Whyld)

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  Occupy London camp at St Paul's Cathedral is cleared after bailiffs moved in to remove tents from the camp, London, Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012. (AP/Photo/Lewis Whyld/PA)