TORONTO, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- The planned celebration for the Olympic flame in Canada's largest city encountered hundreds of protesters on Thursday, leading to at least five arrests.

    Protesters stormed up the streets shouting, "No Olympics on stolen native land" until they reached a barricade of officers with bicycles.

    Dozens of police equipped with batons and six on horsebacks, sealed off the street.

    After a delay of nearly an hour, the Olympic flame was eventually diverted west as it continued toward its final destination city hall.

    Organizers were forced to split the Olympic flame into two torches due to the delay caused by the protesters.

    Until the protest broke out, the day's celebrations had gone smoothly, with thousands of fans cheered for torchbearers.

    Opponents accused the Canadian government pay no heed to the poverty of indigenous people and spend hugely on the Olympic Games. Others blame the organizers force low-income people leave their houses to make way for the construction of the Olympic Games venues.