Police began removing protesters seeking more action against climate change from a square near the Swiss parliament building in Bern early on Wednesday after the group that had set up tents refused to heed a city order to leave.

State broadcaster SRF showed video of police leading protesters away from Federal Square. Removal was likely to last for several hours because some had chained themselves to objects including bicycles and metal fencing.

The protesters erected the camp in the heart of Bern's political center on Monday to highlight demands for Switzerland to do more to reduce net carbon emissions to zero by 2030.

Reuters