Sept. 6 (Bloomberg) -- Australian comedians, one dressed as Osama bin Laden, were arrested after they drove a motorcade through two security checkpoints in Sydney during the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.

The motorcade of three cars and two motorbikes, marked with `Canada' signs in the windscreens and decorated with Canadian flags, were waved through security into Sydney's `Red Zone,' where 2.8 meter steel fences have been installed to prevent protesters from entering.

The comedians' satirical television program, ``The Chaser's War on Everything,'' is broadcast on the state-owned Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Chas Licciardello, who features in the program, got out of one of the cars near the Hotel InterContinental, where U.S. President George W. Bush is staying during the summit, dressed as bin Laden.

``A lot of people were involved in this stunt,'' Chaser actor Chris Taylor told Australian Broadcasting. Corp. ``We just thought Canada would be a country the cops wouldn't scrutinize too closely.''

A New South Wales police spokeswoman said 11 people had been arrested, although charges had not yet been filed. Security imposed during the summit, which is being attended by leaders or representatives of 21 Asian-Pacific economies, allows for charged protesters to be jailed.

About 3,500 police backed by 1,500 soldiers, tanks, water cannon and explosives-detecting dogs are deployed in the New South Wales capital to guard APEC leaders.

``They were arrested, so that shows the security system works,'' Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told reporters in Sydney. ``Whatever you think of the humor of the Chaser, they clearly were not going to harm anybody.''

APEC includes the U.S., Japan, China, Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

To contact the reporter on this story: Gemma Daley in Sydney at gdaley@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: September 6, 2007 02:48 EDT