No Berlusconi Day in Italy brings tens of thousands to the streets of Rome

[Syt]

AFP: Tens of thousands march against Berlusconi

ROME — Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in the centre of Rome against Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi Saturday after an Internet call for a "No Berlusconi Day."

Most of them wore scarves, T-shirts or sweaters in various shades of violet after the group of bloggers who organised the protest chose it as the only colour not used by political parties.

The organisers claimed to have attracted 350,000 supporters from a wide spectrum of society, backed by mainly left-wing opposition parties.

One of the organisers, Gianfranco Mascia, told journalists he thought the crowds may even have passed a million.

Banners carried by the marchers calling on Berlusconi to quit referred to the prime minister's various legal problems, including suspicions of corruption and tax fraud.

"We want Berlusconi to resign because we do not feel that he represents us," one of the organisers, Emmanuele de Pascale, 28, told AFP.

Former minister Rosy Bindi said she took part as a "simple citizen" and not as a representative of the Democratic Party (PD).

"It is significant that a large part of the country is reacting against and getting angry at a prime minister who doesn't want to be judged and isn't solving problems," she told AFP.

Antonio di Pietro, a former anti-corruption judge and now leader of the Italy of Values party, denounced "the Berlusconi government's great electoral, political, judicial and media swindle".

Participants ranged from film director Nanni Moretti, who condemned Berlusconi's domination of Italian television, to ecologists opposed to a planned bridge across the Straits of Messina and immigrant defence groups.

Protesters shouted "mafioso" at effigies of the billionaire prime minister, referring to a Mafia hitman who testified at a trial in Turin that his boss alleged Berlusconi had aided organised crime.

Berlusconi has vehemently denied ties to the Mafia.

[Valmy]

"We want Berlusconi to resign because we do not feel that he represents us," one of the organisers, Emmanuele de Pascale, 28, told AFP.

Of course he doesn't represent YOU, you voted for the opposition.  He does, however, represent the people who voted for the government.  There are more of them then there are of you.

[Jaron]

We should have one of these for Obama.

[The Brain]

Nobama Day!

[Syt]

[Admiral Yi]

Odd that they used English.

[The Brain]

Odd that they used English.

It's the language of infantile political discourse.

[Neil]

It's a shame that all these people can't be shot or something.

[The Larch]

Odd that they used English.

It's an affectation of Italian society, using English words when it's not necessary. All these kind of happenings are "XXX day".

[Eddie Teach]

We should have one of these for Obama.

They were called "tea parties."

[Razgovory]

Shame it looks like these people are all communists or something.

[Jaron]

I'm attending a "Not in our name" anti-Socialism event next weekend.

[Valmy]

Cuban flags?  Really?

[Jaron]

Cuban flags?  Really?

If the Cubans ever invaded Italy, their elite commando squads would take Rome in a day..