Trucks arrive at US consulate ordered closed in China

Moving trucks and vehicles with diplomatic plates pulled out of a U.S. Consulate in southwest China on Sunday, as its impending closure over rising bilateral tensions drew a stey stream of onlookers for second straight day.

People stopped to take selfies and photos, jamming a sidewalk busy with shoppers and families with strollers on a sunny day in city of Chengdu.

capital of Sichuan province, along with Houston in Texas, has found itself in limelight of international politics as China and U.S. exchanged tit-for-tat orders last week to close each or's consulates in two heartland cities.

Police in Chengdu have shut street and sidewalk in front of consulate and set up metal barriers along sidewalk on or side of tree-lined ro.

Uniformed and plainclos officers kept watch on both sides of barriers after scattered incidents following Chengdu anuncement on Friday, including a man who set off firecrackers and hecklers who cursed at foreign media shooting video and photos of scene.

A man who tired to unfurl a banner or sign late Sunday that he called an open letter to Chinese government was quickly taken away.

Earlier, a bus left consulate grounds and what appeared to be embassy staff spoke with plainclos police before retreating back behind property's solid black gates.

It wasn’t clear who or what was on bus.