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Five protesters briefly shut down a meeting of the Montana Land Board in Helena as the panel prepared to vote on the sale of a half-billion ton reserve of state-owned coal.

After Secretary of State Linda McCulloch moved to approve the sale Thursday morning, the protesters sat down and locked arms in front of the board members at a meeting room in the state Capitol.

They protesters began chanting, "Hands off Otter Creek, you're not listening."

The meeting was halted for approximately 45 minutes until police led the protesters away in handcuffs.

Police say they were taken to jail on an initial charge of disorderly conduct.

Arch Coal has offered an $86 million upfront payment plus royalties for the rights to mine the state's Otter Creek coal tracts.

The Land Board voted 3-2 to approve Otter Creek coal leases.

(Initial report) The Montana Land Board meeting in Helena was disrupted by protesters on Thursday morning.

Governor Schweitzer called a recess as police escorted Land Board members out.

The protesters, who are believed to be from Missoula, were taken to the Helena police station and are going to charged with disorderly conduct.

The meeting resumed shortly after the disturbance.