Thousands of anti-globalisation protesters are pouring into the northern Italian city of Genoa today ahead of this weekend's Group of Eight (G8) summit.
Police have set up a cordon of steel and concrete around the heart of the city, sealing off a "red zone" that will surround the G8 venue. The long-planned measure turned Genoa into a silent city of boarded-up shops and car-free streets.
Over 100,000 demonstrators protesting at the power of rich countries over the world have vowed to besiege the annual summit of leaders from the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada and Russia.
One group of about 25 wore T-shirts proclaiming themselves "Red Zone Invaders" - a reference to their plans to break into the security zone.
The protesters include hundreds of Irish who left Dublin last week to join activists in Italy. Buses ferried them, via Britain and France, to Genoa.
Ms Grace Lally, spokeswoman for Globalise Resistance, who are organising the Irish activities, said the group is part of an emerging worldwide force uniting people against the growth of global corporations.
Yesterday two letter bombs exploded in northern Italy. No direct link was immediately made between the blasts and the summit, but they heightened tension in Genoa and in Rome, where G8 foreign ministers met.
US President Mr George W. Bush, a main target of protesters, will arrive at the summit, making it clear he will not back down on two issues over which he and his allies disagree - a missile defence system and the Kyoto global warming pact.