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Italy steps up security in major cities amid protests by rival activists Italy election: Rival protests spark tensions ahead of vote
(about 2 hours later)
Thousands of police officers have been deployed across Italy as demonstrations by far-right and anti-fascist groups get under way in the country. Rival demonstrations by far-right and anti-fascist groups a week before Italy's general election have led to scuffles with police.
Authorities said that protests in Rome, Milan and Palermo could draw crowds of up to 20,000 people on Saturday. Police in Milan used batons as left-wing demonstrators tried to break through a cordon.
In Rome, some 3,000 officers were mobilised for marches and sit-ins. Elsewhere, the leader of the anti-immigration League party, Matteo Salvini, told supporters that defence of the country was a "sacred duty".
Violent clashes in Italy between anti-fascist and far-right activists have increased in recent weeks ahead of a general election next month. Protests also took place in Rome and the Sicilian city of Palermo.
On Saturday, security measures were put in place in major cities including the mobilisation of riot police with metal detectors, Italian public broadcaster Rai reports. As the election campaign enters its final week, opinion polls suggest that the right-wing Forza Italia party led by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is in the lead.
In Milan, demonstrators at a march against the anti-immigration party The League - until recently known as the Northern League - clashed with riot police, who set up barricades and used batons to control the crowds. The anti-establishment Five Star Movement will be vying with Mr Berlusconi's party for the top spot in the 4 March election. However, it has repeatedly ruled out governing with other parties.
In Rome, several thousand people took to the streets to protest for democratic values and against what they described as resurgent fascism. The far-right League and the Brothers of Italy parties could attempt to form a right-wing coalition government with Mr Berlusconi but this is unlikely to achieve a parliamentary majority.
Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi is due to attend a demonstration in the capital later, which was arranged by the National Partisans' Organisation (ANPI) under the slogan "Fascism Never Again". Clashes between anti-fascist and far-right activists have increased in recent weeks ahead of a general election on 4 March.
At the same time in the city, a protest led by the left-wing union group Cobas will march against the labour reforms known as the Jobs Act, a signature policy of Mr Renzi's government. On Thursday, several police officers were injured in clashes between far-left and far-right protesters in Turin.
In Milan, thousands of supporters of The League attended a rally led by the party's leader Matteo Salvini. At the rally, Mr Salvini climbed over two barriers and forced his way through reporters to shake hands with people, Reuters news agency reports. Riot police clashed with protesters at a campaign rally in Pisa on Friday by the League party.
There were scuffles in the city earlier on Saturday as police dispersed left-wing activists who set off flares during an unauthorised protest at a city centre monument. On Saturday, anti-fascist demonstrators in Milan protested against the anti-migrant stances of far-right parties. When they tried to break through police lines, officers beat them back with batons.
In Rome, some 3,000 officers were deployed for marches and sit-ins on Saturday. Riot police used metal detectors in a series of measures aimed at preventing violence.
Several thousand people took to the streets of the capital to protest for democratic values and against what they described as resurgent fascism.
Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi took part in a rally which was arranged by the National Partisans' Organisation (ANPI) under the slogan "Fascism Never Again".
At the same time in the city, a protest led by the left-wing union group Cobas marched against the labour reforms known as the Jobs Act. The reforms were a signature policy of Mr Renzi's government.
Meanwhile, consecutive marches in Palermo in northern Sicily are expected to be attended by Roberto Fiore, the head of the far-right group Forza Nuova, and members of a far-left movement.Meanwhile, consecutive marches in Palermo in northern Sicily are expected to be attended by Roberto Fiore, the head of the far-right group Forza Nuova, and members of a far-left movement.