HispanicBusiness

Los Angeles City Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Tuesday that the police will enforce the eviction of Occupy LA encampment when it is safe to both the officers and protesters.

"We've made it clear, the park is closed. But we also made it clear, we will enforce that closure when it's safest for our officers and the protesters," said Villaraigosa at a press conference held at the official residence of Chinese Consul General Qiu Shaofang.

"We believe that the most minimum amount of force would be necessary. That's our commitment and that's our hope," said the mayor who is going to China in December to promote trade and other relations with partners in the country.

Villaraigosa and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck announced Friday the Occupy LA encampment on the lawn surrounding the City Hall should be evicted at 12:01 a.m.(0801 GMT) Monday. But there are still several hundred of protesters and dozens of tents on the south lawn of the City Hall.

But the mayor said in a statement issued several hours before the midnight deadline of eviction Sunday that the police would give protesters "ample of time" to remove their belongings peacefully and without disruption.

"We have to balance their rights for free speech and our responsibility to address public safety," said the mayor at Tuesday's press conference.

Policemen with batons were in tense standoff with protesters during the early morning hours on Monday. Four people were arrested around 5 a.m. (1300 GMT) Monday in police actions to clear a major traffic intersection.

The Occupy LA rally is the largest remaining round-the-clock civic occupation in the United States aiming to raise social awareness about economic inequality and other issues.

The removal of Occupy protests in other cities has sometimes led to police using aggressive tactics and weapons, including batons and pepper spray, when demonstrators did not obey orders to leave.