Standoff with G20 protesters in Toronto

TORONTO police clashed with protesters for a second straight day on Sunday, with a final standoff played out in the downtown core near the just-finished G-20 summit of world leaders.

Police said that 605 protesters had been arrested by late afternoon. The running tally did not include the dozens seen detained by a Reuters witness just blocks away from where the G-20 leaders wrapped up talks focused on fixing the ills of the global economy.

The standoff lasted more than five hours, from the late afternoon through to the late evening, as hundreds of police in full riot gear hemmed in protesters at a normally busy downtown intersection. A heavy downpour and a severe thunderstorm warning added to the drama as the standoff continued until 0143 GMT (9.43pm Singapore time).

The operation ended abruptly and police could not provide immediate comment. MORE