ITALY: The Italian Interior Minister, Mr Giuseppe Pisanu, yesterday warned of "serious threats to public order" posed by planned protests against the visit of US President George Bush to Rome next Friday.
Speaking in Milan at a congress of government party Forza Italia, Mr Pisanu said: "In view of President Bush's visit, there appear to be serious threats, threats which worry us but do not frighten us. "
You've only got to look at various Internet sites to be aware of the threats to public security and order."
The Minister gave no specific details about the alleged threats but his remarks reflect concern expressed earlier this week by Police Chief Gianni De Gennaro who spoke of "200 or 300 protesters" travelling to Rome "intent on violence". In the countdown to President Bush's visit, it would seem police fear a repetition of the violence which marred the Genoa G8 summit in July 2001, violence which saw one protester, Carlio Giuliani, killed and which caused more than €50 million in damage.
For months now the broad-based peace movement, stretching from Catholic groups to extreme leftist movements such as Rifondazione Communista and including the major opposition party, Democratic Left, have all indicated that they would demonstrate "in favour of peace" during President Bush's 30 hour visit to Rome next Friday and Saturday.
Italian public opinion was overwhelmingly opposed to the US-led invasion of Iraq, while two-thirds of Italians believe that Italy's 3,000-strong contingent in Iraq should be recalled. Speaking to the Forza Italia faithful in Milan yesterday, Mr Pisanu pointed out that President Bush was coming to Italy to commemorate the liberation of Europe from Nazi fascism 60 years ago.
Recalling all those Americans who lost their lives on the beaches of Anzio and Normandy, Mr Pisanu added: "President Bush is coming to Italy in search of a reasonable way out of the Iraqi tragedy, a way out that will consolidate peace and restore freedom and sovereignty to a people crushed by a dictatorship and by three wars in the last 20 years"
He vowed that his government, while guaranteeing the constitutional right to peaceful demonstration, would not be intimidated by threats of violence.