University officials say eight protesters who occupied a fourth-floor ledge of a University of California, Berkeley building have come down voluntarily.

A statement issued by the university says the protesters, who occupied the ledge of the university's Wheeler Hall for several hours Thursday, came down after talks with campus leaders.

University police say all eight were cited for trespassing and released. The protesters left the building around 9:30 p.m.

They had been protesting state budget cuts to the University of California.

The peaceful ending came after riot police faced off earlier Thursday with a growing number of demonstrators angry over state education cuts.

Shortly after the start of the protest, police said officers were able to reach one protester through the window and arrested him.