CLEVELAND (AP) - About 200 anti-war protesters briefly blocked downtown streets during rush hour Friday, beating drums and buckets and drawing peace signs in chalk on manhole covers.

The mainly college-age marchers chanted ''Whose streets? Our streets,'' and ''This is what democracy looks like.'' Some wrote ''No war'' and other messages in chalk on the streets. Others carried flags and signs bearing messages such as ''We don't want your ugly war.''

Cleveland police estimated the crowd at 200. Five protesters were arrested and charged with aggravated disorderly conduct, Cleveland Police Commander Andy Gonzalez said.

About 100 police officers in cruisers, on motorcycles and on foot were in front of and behind the marchers as they snaked through the city.

The crowd then blocked an intersection on East Ninth Street, one of the main arteries out of town, for about 10 minutes until police in riot gear arrived.

''We were hoping by a show of force that they would move on they were successful with that,'' Gonzalez said.

The protesters marched back to Public Square, where there was a confrontation with police. At least two protesters were taken to the ground and handcuffed.

An officer spotted an object in one protester's hands that might have been a weapon, Gonzalez said.

''There was a gesture that one of the officers saw that appeared menacing,'' he said.

Protesters screamed at the officers as they subdued the men, chanting, ''Shame on you,'' and ''The world is watching.''

After several minutes, the tension subsided and protesters peacefully beat on drums and held up their signs as a ring of officers in riot gear stood around them, occasionally yelling instructions not to block sidewalks.

Protester Mary Triece said they wanted to be noticed.

''The plan is to disrupt business as usual to call attention to the injustice of the war,'' Triece said.

Cleveland Police Lt. Robert Stitt said the crowd was about the same size as a protest last week, but this group tried to disrupt traffic.

''If they start lying down in the street, we will arrest them,'' Stitt said.

About 100 spectators stood in other parts of Public Square, a few holding signs in support of the war effort.

''Saddam Hussein's propaganda machine is using these protests to distort that we're all against George Bush,'' said Tim Miller, 35, holding a sign reading, ''Don't protest your country, support it.''

A small group holding American flags stood toe-to-toe with the anti-war protesters. Among them was Tim Maffo, 19, a reserve with the Marines, who said he was upset when the crowd yelled obscene, disparaging comments about the military.

''That hurts because our armed forces are over there in a ditch,'' Maffo said.