Oakland leaders want Occupy camp to go

OAKLAND, Calif. — A group of Oakland city, business and community leaders is calling for the immediate removal of a large Occupy Wall Street encampment.

They say the month-old camp is straining city resources, posing safety concerns and hurting businesses in the downtown area.

At a Wednesday news conference attended by City Council President Larry Reid and other councilmembers, leaders and Occupy protesters got into a heated shouting match.

The call comes a day after Mayor Jean Quan issued a statement appealing to protesters to work with the city to reach a "peaceful resolution."

Quan has allowed the campers to remain in the city hall plaza after heavy criticism for the city's handling of an Oct. 25 raid that turned violent. The camp has now grown to about 180 tents.