MISSOULA- Protesters with Occupy Missoula split over removal of that controversial camp on the courthouse lawn, with the main leaders of the group saying they're no longer involved with the encampment.

The camp, first erected back in early October as part of the general "Occupy Missoula" movement, has become more of a problem as the weeks have dragged on. It was almost two weeks ago Missoula County commissioners approved a resolution making it illegal to camp on county property without a permit. But so far the county hasn't enforced that rule.

The Occupy Movement General Assembly voted last week to take down the green army surplus tent that has formed the main center of the camp. But the leaders say when they tried to do that over the weekend it resulted in a confrontation with the protesters at the encampment who "blocked" them.

The General Assembly met again Sunday evening and reaffirmed their position that the camp was diverting attention from Occupy's other efforts and campaigns. That group says the encampment protesters aren't "respecting" the decision to take down the tent.

The Occupy General Assembly says in a statement, "rather than provoke further confrontation and dysfunction" the group is recognizing the differences and asking the encampment to form its own organization and formally separate from the General Assembly. They say they'll continue to talk with the handful of protesters from the camp, but say the future of the occupation of the courthouse lawn is now up to that particular group of protesters.