Occupy protesters promise to let Muslim festival go ahead

An organizer of a cultural festival set for Olympic Plaza this weekend says he’s been assured by Occupy Calgary protesters that they will move aside temporarily to let the event go ahead.  

The city has asked the Occupy protesters to leave the downtown park so that seasonal maintenance can be done and crews can prepare for Saturday’s Muslim Heritage Day festival.  

Organizing committee chairman Talha Iqbal said the protesters told him they will move their tents so the event can go ahead.   

"The response was OK. They've been very helpful, they've been very friendly and they've been in touch with us and making sure everything goes smooth," he said.

"And we don't have to involve anyone else in terms of let's say the Calgary Police Service or the city."

Last year about 2,500 people attended the festival.