Police arrest Canadian trucker-led protest leaders

Canadian police have begun arresting leaders of the trucker-led protest that has choked the capital's streets for three weeks and provoked the government into calling on rarely used emergency powers.

A video posted to the Twitter account for the so-called "Freedom Convoy" showed Tamara Lich, one of the organisers, being taken into police custody on Thursday night.

Earlier, Lich posted a tearful video to say she was expecting to be arrested. She called on supporters to flood the capital, saying truckers already in place "are gonna stay and fight for your freedom."

"If you can come to Ottawa and stand with us, that would be fantastic," she said.

But city police chief Steve Bell said access to downtown Ottawa would be restricted to prevent people from joining the demonstration, and he warned of "imminent" action against those already there.

"I implore anyone that's there: Get in your truck... and leave our city streets," Bell told reporters.

The earlier arrest of another leader, Chris Barber, was also captured in a video shared on the same account.

READ MORE: Canada truckers hold ground ahead of 'imminent' police action

Rally against pandemic restrictions

The convoy had started with truckers protesting against mandatory Covid-19 vaccines to cross the US border.

However, its demands have grown to include an end to all pandemic restrictions and, for many, a wider anti-establishment agenda.

At its peak, the movement also included blockades of a half-dozen US-Canada border crossings – including the key route between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan.

The demonstrators had been given an ultimatum late on Wednesday by Bell to leave or risk arrest and truck seizures.

Police this week arrested dozens of protesters, including four people charged with conspiracy to murder police officers at a checkpoint between Coutts, Alberta and Sweet Grass, Montana.

Criticised for failing to act decisively, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau this week invoked the Emergencies Act, which gives the government sweeping powers to deal with a major crisis.

It is only the second time such powers have been invoked in peacetime.

READ MORE: Canada truckers' protest grows, fuels similar campaigns abroad