Police said three protesters had refused orders to leave the governor's residence in the grounds of the Capital building on Thursday. Earlier, 14 people were arrested after staging a sit-in in the wing of the capitol.

The grounds were placed in lockdown due to what police said was "unforeseen protest activity," local TV channel KFYR reported. The TV station reported that several people had attempted to hold talks with state Governor Jack Dalrymple.

Those arrested face charges of criminal trespass after their protest in Bismarck, which took place hours after a march closed the route of the controversial pipeline near the small town of Cannon Ball.

More than 500 clergy from around the world also gathered on Thursday at a campfire at the main protest camp as part of an interfaith prayer day.

The pipeline will run close to the Missouri River

Demonstrators once again called for a halt to the construction of the $3.8 billion pipeline that will carry oil from North Dakota to a shipping point in Illinois.

No sign of end to protests

Environmentalists and Native American communities have protested against the pipeline for months, saying it could harm drinking water and construction could damage sacred sites.

Clashes between protesters and police have resulted in more than 400 arrests since August.

The most recent incident took place on Wednesday, when law officers in riot gear used pepper spray to deter dozens of protesters who tried to cross a frigid stream to access property owned by the pipeline developer. Two people were detained.

About 140 people were arrested on the property last week in a law enforcement operation to clear the encampment that protesters had established on the land.

Native American tribe clashes with police in Dakota oil pipeline protests The pipeline advances A vehicle passes by pipes intended for use in the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. The conduit is meant to bring up to 570,000 barrels of crude oil daily from fracking fields in North Dakota to Illinois, passing through territory that historically has belonged to Native Americans.

Native American tribe clashes with police in Dakota oil pipeline protests Anger from the local Sioux The Standing Rock Sioux tribe has opposed the project since its proposal in 2014. Though the pipeline will not cross into Sioux territory, tribal leaders argue it will disturb historical burial grounds and could endanger the tribe's source of water, the Missouri River, under which the pipeline is supposed to pass. The company building the pipeline claims it has taken precautions against this.

Native American tribe clashes with police in Dakota oil pipeline protests Defiance A man faces police across the Cantapeta Creek outside the Standing Rock Reservation near the town of Cannon Ball, North Dakota, where construction of the pipeline is underway.

Native American tribe clashes with police in Dakota oil pipeline protests Pipeline protests Opponents of a new oil pipeline near the Standing Rock Indian Reservation gathered outside Cannon Ball, North Dakota, on November 2, 2016

Native American tribe clashes with police in Dakota oil pipeline protests Confrontation at Cantapeta Creek A police officer uses pepper spray against protesters standing in Cantapeta Creek near the pipeline construction site. The resistance of the local tribe has gained international attention in recent weeks and the number of protesters has swelled. Even celebrities Mark Ruffalo and civil rights activist Jesse Jackson have joined in.

Native American tribe clashes with police in Dakota oil pipeline protests Relief for the eyes A protester is treated with pepper spray antidote after a confrontation with the police. Tribal leaders allege that police have engaged in excessive force against protesters, leading the UN to investigate possible human rights abuses.

Native American tribe clashes with police in Dakota oil pipeline protests Consolation After clashing with the police in Cantapeta Creek a young woman is consoled by a fellow protester.

Native American tribe clashes with police in Dakota oil pipeline protests Too late to make a change? An elderly protester raises her arm during demonstrations against the pipeline. On November 1, US President Barack Obama said that the federal government is considering re-routing the pipeline in response to opposition. Author: Amien Essif



Confusion remains over whether the protests have succeeded in forcing the pipeline to be rerouted.

On Tuesday, US President Barack Obama said the US Army, which owns the land, was mulling alternative routes. But the Texas-based developer Energy Transfer Partners said shortly after it had no plans to change the direction of the pipeline.

mm/kl (AP, Reuters)