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Occupy SF Protesters On Edge As Reported Deadline To Leave Expires

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) - Members of Occupy SF were on edge at San Francisco's Justin Herman Plaza Thursday as a reported noon deadline set by city officials to vacate the area came and went.

Occupy protesters met with Department of Public Works director Mohammed Nuru and other city officials on Wednesday and were told to leave the plaza at the foot of Market Street where they have been camping for several weeks.

The city issued a similar deadline for 8 a.m. Wednesday that passed without incident.  However, a spokesman for Mayor Ed Lee's office told CBS 5 Thursday that despite reports there was no new official deadline set by the city.

At a general assembly held over the course of several hours Wednesday night, protesters discussed moving to an alternate location offered near 16th and Mission streets, said Christopher Loscomb, one of the protesters.

However, Loscomb said, the assembly could not come to a consensus.

He said he would accept the move to "attempt something new" and said he wants the city to know that "there are a lot of people that want this."

But as of shortly before noon, no one at the encampment appeared ready to leave.  No DPW or police officers were visible nearby.

KCBS' Holly Quan Reports:

A camper named Sean who declined to give his last name said he thought the city was setting the protesters up to fail by encouraging a move to the Mission.

"If there's issues with drugs and violence here, can you imagine how much worse it'll be in a place with a lot of gang activity?" Sean said.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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