Italy holds traffic-free day

Rome - Millions of Italians reclaimed the traffic-plagued streets of central Rome yesterday as cars were banned for the day in…

Rome - Millions of Italians reclaimed the traffic-plagued streets of central Rome yesterday as cars were banned for the day in a fight against pollution.

Some 150 cities and small towns joined an initiative by the environment ministry worried about the levels of car exhaust pollution.

The World Health Organisation estimates that more than 15,000 people die in Italy annually because of car-exhaust fumes.