"We can conclude that we have achieved what we set out to achieve and then some," said protest leader Chee Soon Juan, head of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party. "The world now knows the extent of the repression in Singapore, and hopefully this will translate into pressure on the Singapore government to reform the system."

The activists - who have numbered between six and 10 - have camped out at a park in central Singapore since Saturday, in defiance of government rules that forbid outdoor gatherings of more than four people without a police permit.

Police have prevented them from marching to Parliament and the convention center where the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings are being held.

On Tuesday, the small group twice started to march in the direction of Parliament House, and twice were blocked by a row of police officers who told them if they proceeded it would be an illegal assembly.

It was not immediately clear why police had not arrested any of the protesters this weekend.

The end of the protest was timed to coincide with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's opening speech at the IMF and World Bank meetings.

"Our 72-hour protest, which I have been told is unprecedented and has certainly been a historic event here in Singapore, may have come to a close, but I assure you that our movement, our campaign for democracy, will grow and gain momentum and strength," Chee said.

The Singapore government maintains it does practice a form of democracy, and that its leaders are elected, but it rejects Western-style democracy. Authorities tightly restrict media and political speech, saying such controls have helped turn the city-state into one of Asia's economic powerhouses.

The protest has highlighted Singapore's stringent curbs on dissent even as it is hoping to showcase itself to thousands of international visitors as a model of clean and efficient governance with a prosperous, open economy. The protest was reported widely overseas but received minimal coverage in Singapore's pro-government media.

The prime minister's office had no immediate reaction to Chee's statement.

Singapore warned earlier this year it would use severe punishments such as caning of protesters who commit violent acts during the IMF-World Bank meetings.

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