ITALY: Opponents of the war in Iraq unfurled peace flags from Rome's bridges, put hoods on statues and chanted "Bush Go Home" yesterday, two days before the US President makes a controversial visit to Italy.
The demonstrations took place in various parts of the Italian capital as political leaders attended the annual Republic Day military parade under tight security.
The demonstrators, who have dubbed themselves "The Disobedient", held their own march nearby but police in riot gear were on hand to keep them away from the parade route.
Protesters, including some leftist parliamentarians, chanted "Peace Now!", "Troops Out of Iraq!" and "Italy hates war".
President Bush told Italian state television he valued freedom of speech and was not afraid of protests during his Rome visit.
"I have no problem with people who say they don't agree. I think it (demonstrating) is a healthy thing," he said.
Some 25 people were detained in Rome after minor scuffles with police.
Further north in Bologna, violence escalated as police wielding batons beat back protesters who broke through barricades at an anti-war demonstration.
This year's Rome parade, in which military, police and volunteer units marched as planes flew overhead, has taken on added controversy because of the war in Iraq.
Italy is braced for violence over Mr Bush's visit and Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu has said he was "concerned but not frightened" by what he called serious threats during the 36-hour visit that starts tonight.
Most Italians opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq last year and there have been many calls for Rome to withdraw its some 2,700 troops, the third-biggest contingent to US-led occupation forces in Iraq after the United States and Britain.
"It is shameful, a provocation, for Bush to come here. Italy does not want him, he is a friend of the Italian government, not the Italian people," said Ms Margarita Gaetani, a 57-year-old architect who wrapped herself in a rainbow peace flag.