Ottawa police lift blockades in downtown, Parliament still shut

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Ottawa police said late on Wednesday they had lifted safety blockades in the downtown core which were imposed after a soldier was killed and a gunman was shot dead in Parliament. "The ongoing police investigation in the downtown core has determined that there no longer exists a threat to public safety in the area," the police said in a statement. "However, the police operation continues on Parliament Hill and as such the Hill continues to be off limits to the public." (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Jeffrey Hodgson)