OTTAWA, Jan 31, 2022 (BSS/AFP) - A "Freedom Convoy" of trucks joined by

thousands of demonstrators brought Ottawa to a virtual standstill for a
second day Sunday to protest Canada's vaccine mandates, as other sympathetic
truckers blocked a border highway into the United States.

  The chaos clogged the capital's downtown near parliament throughout the
weekend and brought criticism from officials including Ottawa's mayor.

  "This afternoon, a large presence of police continues throughout the
downtown core and the movement of protestors and trucks continues to be
managed," the Ottawa police said in a statement.

  "These high-risk situations were de-escalated and resolved with no
arrests," the authorities said, adding that "police resources are fully
stretched" in dealing with the obstruction, which appeared to involve
hundreds of trucks.

  The boisterous protests threatened to disrupt business Monday, with
authorities stating that City Hall will remain closed, traffic will be
disrupted and some other services stalled.

  The protest originated last week in western Canada, where dozens of
truckers organized a convoy to drive from Vancouver to the Canadian capital
to demonstrate against Covid-related restrictions, particularly a recent
vaccination requirement for truck drivers crossing the long US-Canada border.

  Multiple convoys began arriving in Ottawa on Friday, and were joined by
thousands of other anti-vaccination protesters.

  In solidarity with the convergence on Ottawa, truckers Sunday staged what
police described as a "complete blockage" of Highway 4 in Canada's western
Alberta province along the US border. The road is a major artery for
commercial goods between the nations.

  "As of right now... the port of entry remains open technically speaking,
however nobody would be able to get to them except on foot," Curtis Peters, a
spokesman for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Alberta, told AFP, adding
that some 100 trucks were blocking the roadway.

  In Ottawa, the desecration of a war memorial and harassment of some city
officials and NGO volunteers sparked an angry response, and the police said
they had launched "several investigations."

  "I am sickened to see protesters dance on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
and desecrate the National War Memorial," Wayne Eyre, chief of the country's
Defense Staff, said on Twitter.

  "Those involved should hang their heads in shame."

  - 'Show some respect' -

  Barricades were installed Sunday to block vehicle access to the area around
the war memorial, after several illegally parked vehicles were towed away.

  And an organization advocating for the homeless, Shepherds of Good Hope,
said its workers had been "harassed" by protesters demanding meals on a
particularly cold weekend.

  It said it had briefly given free meals to some demonstrators in an effort
to defuse tensions, but added, "This weekend's events have caused significant
strain to our operations at an already difficult time."

  With protesters gathering, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family
were moved Saturday to an undisclosed location in Ottawa, Canadian media
reported.

  Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson fumed over what he called "threatening" behavior by
some of the protesters, particularly against the media.

  "Stop the bully tactics and show some respect to fellow Canadians," he said
on Twitter.

  Later, in an interview with the CBC, Watson said it was time for protesters
to "move on" so Ottawa can return to normal.

  "Quite frankly, (residents) feel they're prisoners in their own home," he
said.