OTTAWA - Two members of the Femen movement crashed an anti-abortion demonstration in Ottawa on Thursday just as Quebec City's archbishop was addressing the crowd.
The women removed their tops, baring anti-protest slogans on their breasts, stomach and back.
Neda Topalosky and Delphine Bergeron were surrounded by rally organizers on Parliament Hill before RCMP officers took over.
As the two chanted slogans saying women's bodies are their own, some protesters began praying while others criticized police for not doing anything.
"Officers, you are not doing anything," said Matthew Wojciechowski, a protest organizer and a member of the group Campaign Life.
"Please, there are children here."
Topalosky was told she was being arrested for causing a disturbance.
She and Bergeron were removed from the area in an RCMP vehicle before being released a few minutes later.
"We want free access to abortion and medical care for women who need it and want it," said Bergeron. "We don't want to go backwards."
Bob Zimmer, a Conservative MP from British Columbia, said the Femen members had the "freedom" to turn up at the annual event.
"But I just wish they would respect the rights of the demonstrators here today," he said. "In consideration of all the children in the crowd, I think that wasn't very considerate."
Another Conservative MP, Ontario's Harold Albrecht, called it a "sad day."
"It's a sad day when you can't have a demonstration of support on the Hill without someone making a scene," he said.
"We always like the police to act immediately. They didn't happen to be right there. It was unfortunate it was as long as it was."
Before the arrival of the Femen, Colorado author Jason Evert lauded the merits of chastity.
"If we can bring this message of chastity to the young people, then we can save these young girls from ever having to make that heart-wrenching decision of abortion," he said.