30 000 protest against Bush

2004-06-04 21:44

Rome - More than 30 000 anti-war protesters were taking part in a demonstration in central Rome on Friday against the visit of United States President George W Bush, said reporters and photographers on the street.

Scuffles broke out briefly when police prevented a group of anti-war protesters from entering the off-limits monument housing Italy's Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the city's central Piazza Venezia, said a reporter.

However, the demonstration was proceeding largely peacefully, closely watched by a huge police presence backed by helicopters droning overhead.

Many protesters were students waving multicoloured peace flags.

"Bush is presenting himself as a liberator, which is the total opposite to what he is," said a student identifying herself only as Francesca.

Visit is part of D-Day celebrations

"Italy is following the United States like a little dog and is now eating alone from the bowl left behind by Spain," said Marco from Rome.

Police sources quoted by Italy's Ansa news agency put the size of the demonstration at up to 25 000.

However, Rome police headquarters declined to give an official estimate of the crowd.

Bush is in Rome at the start of a three-day visit to Europe as part of D-Day celebrations and to mark the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Rome by Allied forces.

The turnout was relatively low in a city which mobilised an estimated three million people in an anti-war march last year.

That march had the support of the main unions and the opposition parties.

Friday's demonstration was organised by the Communists and Greens, while the mainstream leftwing opposition, who also opposed the visit, said they would not take part out of respect for the US soldiers who died in the liberation of Rome. Heavy police presence

Carabinieri police saturated the historic city centre from early morning, with heavy concentrations of the paramilitary force along the main thoroughfares and piazzas, as well as at strategic buildings, ready to snuff out any trouble.

Despite anarchist threats to block roads, Bush's heavily protected motorcade was able to travel unimpeded across the city from the US ambassador's residence to the Vatican for a meeting with Pope John Paul II.

He also laid a wreath at the Ardeatine Caves, the site of one of Italy's biggest wartime massacres of civilians by the Nazis.

Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who said on Thursday he feared anti-war protests could turn violent, was to host Bush at a gala dinner on Friday evening.

- AFP