More than 50 police have stormed the Aboriginal tent embassy in Canberra
to dismantle what was alleged to be an illegal structure.

Two members of the tent embassy have been arrested after police stormed
the site just before 6:00am AEDT.

With some officers dressed in riot gear, embassy members could do little
but to watch on.

Heavy machinery was used to cut down the six-metre high metal A-frame with
the whole operation taking less than an hour.

Even as police prepared to leave, embassy members shouted taunts.

The A-frame was erected on the Australia Day long weekend with the embassy
saying it would be used to house special documents and provide shelter
from the rain.

But officials say the structure was illegal and had no planning authority.