Police cleared the Lindenhof square on Tuesday morning (Keystone)

Demonstrators had been in the area as part of the global Occupy movement which is protesting against the excesses of the financial sector and austerity measures.

Representatives of the Protestant church of St Jakob offered sanctuary to the group of some 100 people until January 5, as long as they agreed to respect certain rules.

They may stay on the grounds on condition that their protest remains nonviolent and that church events and visitors are not disturbed. The arrangement will be reviewed in January.

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