PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Many of the homeless people who have been camped outside City Hall since late April packed up their belongings and moved late last night. But some lingered under the threat of arrest.
     
Dozens of demonstrators left several hours after Mayor Tom Potter and leaders of the protest met behind closed doors. They emerged seemingly no closer to finding an answer that would end the stalemate.

But Arthur Rios, a spokesman for the group, later said fears that police might forcefully remove campers played a part in the decision to go.
     
The protesters want the city to suspend its anti-camping and anti-loitering laws. Those allow police to cite people who sleep outdoors on public property or sit on downtown sidewalks.
     
Potter told demonstrators he was not saying they couldn't protest, but he said "when you protest, you still must follow city laws."
     
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)