Day Of Action Update: 401 stretch blocked by protestors

BELLEVILLE, Ont. — Highway 401 between Belleville and Napanee, near Kingston, were closed in both directions by provincial police this morning as Mohawk protestors — some reportedly armed — erected blockades.

The native demonstration was part of several national events organized by First Nations groups to protest against age-old land disputes with Ottawa. The Belleville protest, however, is reportedly the only situation in Canada that has required direct action by police.

At the time of this posting, however, Toronto news radio was reporting that the police had negotiated a deal with the native group to take down the blockade.

It still remains unclear if the demonstration continues to affect traffic through the area. Alternate routes, say the OPP, are heavy, but flowing.

CN rail lines in Eastern Ontario between Toronto and Montreal were halted as well.

— with files from National Post