Protesters in Washington denounce U.S. aid to Colombia

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- At least 18 protesters were arrested Monday on charges of obstructing traffic on Capitol grounds as they demonstrated against U.S. aid for Colombia's military.

Several hundred demonstrators marched Monday morning from the Washington Monument to Capitol Hill, and the arrests were made when the protesters reached the north Capitol entrance, knelt down and locked arms.

The demonstration marked the third day of protests in the nation's capital.

But police said the protests, which are expected to continue throughout Monday, have been relatively peaceful with no major problems.

On Sunday, a group of about 2,000 people protested against the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. They said that poorer countries are being restricted by conditions attached to international loans and that larger corporations were exploiting these nations.

Mark Rikling, an organizer for the Mobilization for Global Justice, a Washington-base anti-globalization coalition, expressed concern that IMF and World Bank officials were trying to insulate themselves from an open dialogue with protesters and the press.