Protests welcome Bush in Italy

11 June 2008

Rome-Anti-war activists have marched through the streets of Rome to protest the war policies of the US as President Bush arrived in Italy.

George W. Bush, coming from Germany on his European farewell tour, arrived at Rome's Ciampino airport Wednesday afternoon.

Bush and his motorcade headed toward the US ambassador's residence in an upscale Rome neighborhood.

Thousands of people gathered in the center of Rome to demonstrate against the US president's visit.

"We demonstrate against the government of the United States and its war policies, its social, military and environmental crimes around the world but also against the Italian centre-right government which, as the former centre-left one, is allied with the US one, and thus co-responsible of such policy," said Marco Ferrando, a member of the Communist Party of the Workers who was protesting on Wednesday.

Bush's three-day visit includes meetings with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Thursday.

He is expected to press longtime ally Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi for a more robust role in Afghanistan.

Italy, which has 2,300 troops stationed in the relatively stable areas of Herat and Kabul, has come under criticism for not sending its soldiers to fight battles.

Bush will also meet with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican, less than two months after the two met at the White House.

Thousands of policemen have been deployed as part of a tight security plan that also includes a ban on commercial flights over the city during Bush's stay and the rerouting of dozens of bus and tram lines.