MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Police say seven people were arrested for blocking traffic outside the U.S. Bancorp building in downtown Minneapolis during a protest by OccupyMN.

Minneapolis Police Sgt. William Palmer says the group set up two tents in the intersection about 1:30 p.m. Thursday. Police asked them to move and when they didn't, officers arrested them shortly before 2 p.m.

At the same time, a crowd of about 100 people were on the surrounding sidewalks. Many were chanting against banks and demanding a moratorium on home foreclosures.

Palmer says the arrests were peaceful and those arrested were booked into the Hennepin County Jail on misdemeanor charges.

It was the first time multiple protesters have been arrested since the group began its self-described occupation of the Hennepin County government plaza on Oct. 7.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

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