Global News Post: Italy

Italian Scientists Convicted of Not Warning of Earthquake

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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">An
Italian court on Monday convicted seven scientists and experts of manslaughter
for underestimating the risks of a killer earthquake and failing to adequately
warn citizens before it struck the central Italian town of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">L'Aquila</st1:place></st1:city> in 2009.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">More
than 300 people were killed, tens of thousands were left homeless, and the town's
historic center and medieval churches were destroyed in the 6.3-magnitude quake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Prosecutors
argued that the defendants - members of a national panel that assesses major
risks - offered "incomplete, imprecise and contradictory information"
to residents. The international scientific community denounced the trial, noting
that predicting earthquakes is impossible. Even early warning systems, which
rely on a network of sensors to detect surface seismic waves that precede
larger quakes, can provide residents only 10 to 60 seconds advance notice, and
then, only in areas where those sensors are in place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">After
the April quake, seismologists and other experts blamed lax building codes for
the deaths and damage. In many earthquake-prone parts of the world, shoddy
construction practices lead to many more deaths than would occur if homes and
other buildings were more structurally sound.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The
trial opened last September and was adjourned for more than a year, until
resuming this month. The defendants have been sentenced to six years in prison,
but they are unlikely to face jail while their legal appeals are pending.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Some
observers have expressed concern that the convictions will make other experts
and public officials reluctant to share their expertise, to avoid any legal
repercussions. ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Italian Scientists Convicted of Not Warning of Earthquake

An Italian court on Monday convicted seven scientists and experts of manslaughter for underestimating the risks of a killer earthquak...

Italy Keen to Bring FDI in Fashion, Textiles to India

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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NEW DELHI, India (NNN-PTI) -- Terming India's decision to allow 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in single-brand retail as a "revolution", Italy on Thursday said several companies have shown interest in setting up stores in the country, Press Trust of India (PTI) reported. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Italian Trade Commissioner Erica Di Giovancarlo said businessmen of both countries can collaborate in sectors like automobiles, fashion and textiles through joint ventures. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"This decision (allowing 100 per cent FDI in single-brand) of the government is a revolution in this market. I am sure it will catch interest of lot of companies," Giovancarlo told PTI. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The decision has paved the way for global Italian chains like Armani, Gucci and Prada to have full ownership of their India operations. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Italy, a world leader in fashion designing, is interested in setting up businesses here. "Italy is known for fashion. Indian designs are growing very fast. It will be interesting to see how two countries can match. We are working hard on this," she said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">She said in order to bolster trade ties between the two countries, Italy is also organising a three-day 'Expo Riva Schuh Fair' here starting July 5. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The exhibition will offer high-end products which include bags, belts, footwears and leather accessories. "It’s a good meeting point of local needs and Italian products," she said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">However, the third-largest economy in Europe will wait for the economic situation to recover in its region, before making investments here. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The Italian companies, mainly the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), are facing a tough situation due to slowdown. "We have to wait as situation in Italy is very tough but the interest in this country (India) is very high," Giovancarlo added. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The bilateral trade between India and Italy stood at US$8.8 billion during India's fiscal 2010-11 ended March 31, 2011. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: center 234.0pt; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The economic situation in Italy and Europe, in general, is improving although the situation is still difficult, Giovancarlo said. -- NNN-BERNAMA <o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Italy Keen to Bring FDI in Fashion, Textiles to India

NEW DELHI, India (NNN-PTI) -- Terming India's decision to allow 100 per cent foreign direct investment (FDI) in single-brand retail as...

Italy's New 'Bullet Train' Aims to Shake Up Euro Travel

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">By Sabina Castelfranco from Rome<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="305" src="http://www.voanews.com/templates/widgetDisplay.html?id=149353475&player=article" width="480"></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Italy will launch Europe's first private high-speed train service Saturday, as the country moves towards a more liberal economy.  The move could lead other European countries to follow Italy's example of privatizing rail transport and creating new jobs and competition in the marketplace.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The new bullet-shaped "Italo" trains can travel at a top speed of 360 kilometers per hour.  They are run by NTV, a company headed by Ferrari boss Luca di Montezemolo, which invested $1.3 billion.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">He says the real achievement was having brought about liberalization in Italian rail transportation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"At last, Italian citizens and foreign travelers will be able to choose, and one of the longest monopolies in our country has come to an end," said Montezemolo.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Montezemolo says passengers would benefit from the competition.  He adds that the aim is to take a quarter of the market from the state rail network Trenitalia, the biggest employer in the country, by 2014.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Transport experts say despite the difficult economic times, the new train could be a positive development. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"We are still the second manufacturing system in Europe after Germany and I think what is happening in the railway system is an example of the strength of the industrial system," noted Professor Matteo Caroli at LUISS university in Rome.  "We have basically financial problems, like other European countries, but the competitiveness of our companies is strong."<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The project is one example of the new ambitions for Italy's economy, the eurozone's third largest, under Prime Minister Mario Monti.  Monti has been working to shake up a sluggish economy heavily influenced by protectionist traditions.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">NTV's fleet will consist of 25 trains that are being supplied by French multinational Alstom.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"This train is the fourth generation of train for Alstom.  So, it's really at the top, and there is no other technology in the world like this one," said Alstom Managing Director Pierre-Louis Bertina.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">The trains boast sleek interiors with leather seats, large panoramic windows and a cinema car.  There will be three different classes of travel allowing passengers to choose what best suits their needs and how much they want to spend.  NTV's Giuseppe Bonollo says the quality of the service is the real distinguishing point.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">"High technology inside, Wi-Fi connectivity to Internet, free for all travelers and on top of that - this really is a world premiere - the possibility through the laptop to access to satellite direct TV connection," Bonollo explained.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">At Rome's Termini station, many travelers were looking forward to the launch of the new high-speed train.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Italo is adopting an aggressive pricing policy, with discounted fares for advance reservations. In the meantime, the state-owned rail network has already lowered its ticket prices and improved its service.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Other European nations will be watching carefully to see whether it is in their interest to follow the Italian example. ---VOA News</span></div>

Italy's New 'Bullet Train' Aims to Shake Up Euro Travel

By Sabina Castelfranco from Rome Italy will launch Europe's first private high-speed train service Saturday, as the country moves towa...

3 Killed In Luxury Cruise Ship Accident off Italy

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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:city w:st="on"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;">ROME</span></span></st1:city><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;"> (RIA Novosti)</span><span style="background: white;">- </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;">Three people are confirmed dead after a cruise ship carrying more than 4,000 people ran aground off <st1:country-region w:st="on">Italy</st1:country-region>, the prefect of the nearby city of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Grosseto</st1:place></st1:city>, Giuseppe Linardi, said on Saturday.</span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;">Earlier reports put the death toll at 6 and even 8 people.</span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;">The 290-meter-long, 1,500-cabin Costa Concordia liner was on a trip around the Mediterranean when it hit a reef near the Giglio island at around 8 pm local time (19:00 GMT). The luxury vessel ran aground, sending water pouring in through a huge gash in the hull.</span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;">There were Italians, Germans, French and British among the 3,200 passengers. The Russian embassy in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region> said there were 108 Russians onboard. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Dikusarov said that there were also 30 Ukrainians among the passengers.</span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;">Russia</span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;"> has set up an emergency center to help relatives establish contacts with Russians stranded onboard Costa Concordia.</span><span style="background: white;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Most of the passengers and 1,000 crew members have been evacuated, but around 200 people were still on board around 02:30 GMT, Linardi added</span></span></div>

3 Killed In Luxury Cruise Ship Accident off Italy

ROME (RIA Novosti) - Three people are confirmed dead after a cruise ship carrying more than 4,000 people ran aground off Italy , the pref...

Mario Monti to Lead Italy's New Government

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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 8.0pt;">By Henry Ridgwell from <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Rome</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span>  </span><span> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Italian Prime Minister-designate Mario Monti, a former top EU commissioner, has been asked by the country's president to form a new government.<span>  </span>The move comes a day after Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's resignation, following international financial concerns about the Italian economy.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">After at least 17 meetings with senior politicians on Sunday, Italian President Giorgio Napolitano asked Mario Monti to form a new government.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The former EU commissioner said he would fight to grow the country's economy and rebuild pride in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region>. "I intend to fulfill this task with a great sense of responsibility and service toward our country,” he said.<span>  </span>“In a moment of particular difficulty for <st1:country-region w:st="on">Italy</st1:country-region>, in a turbulent situation for <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place> and the world," he added, "the country needs to meet the challenge," he said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Former coalition partners, the Northern League Party, have refused to back Mr. Monti as prime minister, instead calling for early elections.<span>  </span>Analysts say it is a sign that prime minister-designate faces a tough challenge in implementing a major austerity package that was approved by parliament in the past week to reduce <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s huge public debt.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The naming of Mario Monti as <st1:country-region w:st="on">Italy</st1:country-region>'s new prime minister came less than 24 hours after Silvio Berlusconi’s resignation, which was cheered on the streets of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Rome</st1:place></st1:city>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Italy</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">’s borrowing costs soared last week and investors made it clear they wanted Mr. Berlusconi out of office.<span>  </span>He addressed the nation on television on Sunday. "<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region> is among the founders of the European Union," he said.<span>  </span>"We will be at <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s service, as always.<span>  </span>To those who celebrated, to salute what they call my exit from the scene, I want to say very clearly, I will redouble my efforts in parliament and institutions to renew <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region>," he said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The new cabinet is expected to be announced on Monday.<span>  </span>And analysts say it faces a daunting challenge.<span>  </span><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s government debt is about 120 percent of the country's gross domestic product.<span>  </span>And <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s economic growth has been nearly stagnant for a decade and a half.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Political analyst Claudio Borghi says <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s problems are too great for the new government to solve by itself. “One should think, ‘Is it a problem of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region> or is it a problem of the architecture of the euro debt that has to be changed, deeply?’<span>  </span>Because <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region>, of course, can need a lot of reforms.<span>  </span>But it’s like if someone had a heart attack.<span>  </span>So he has a heart attack and people start to complain that he’s fat, that he has to do a diet, that he has to go to the gym.<span>  </span>It is true.<span>  </span>We have to do a diet; we have to go to the gym.<span>  </span>But at the moment, it is the heart attack that matters and we are not going to change it with reforms," he said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Investors will be watching the financial markets this week for reaction to how Mr. Monti addresses <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s economic situation. ---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Mario Monti to Lead Italy's New Government

By Henry Ridgwell from Rome Italian Prime Minister-designate Mario Monti, a former top EU commissioner, has been asked by the country...

Berlusconi Resigns, Ending Scandal-Plagued Era

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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;">By Henry Ridgwell from <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Rome</st1:place></st1:city><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;">Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has become the latest victim of the euro debt crisis. He was forced to resign Saturday, after a week that saw him lose his majority in parliament. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;">A large crowd had already gathered outside <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Rome</st1:place></st1:city>’s presidential palace when Mr. Berlusconi’s motorcade arrived.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;">He was given a hostile reception. The crowd shouted insults - calling him a buffoon and a Mafioso - and demanded his resignation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;">They didn’t have long to wait.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;">Mr Berlusconi’s meeting with President Napolitano lasted just over an hour.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;">News spread fast across <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region> of the Prime Minister’s resignation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;">The party began. Champagne corks were popped; people broke into dance; the square became a <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">sea</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Italian</st1:placename></st1:place> flags.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;">One man echoed many in the crowd - saying we are free, we are finally free.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;">Many others made fun of the allegations that Mr Berlusconi held so-called ‘bunga bunga’ parties with underage girls.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;">Former European Commissioner Mario Monti looks set to gain the president’s approval as a new technocrat prime minister. His responsibility will be to stabilise the economy so elections can be held, likely early next year.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;">Local media say Berlusconi had met Monti for a 2-hour lunch and agreed to back him as <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s new leader.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;">Rome</span></st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;"> buzzed with the news that Mr Berlusconi had just hours left in office. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;">Resident Sandro Falbo was among the crowd outside parliament. “I’m so happy because if seems as though <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region> has lost its moral sense in recent years,” he said. “<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region>’s completely divided and we don’t trust each other. I hope people rediscover the sense of society, to trust each other again.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;">Italy</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;"> is under pressure from European partners to name a new leader before markets open on Monday.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;">Political analyst Claudio Borghi says Mario Monti would have international approval. “He is very prepared, very fit for the role. He knows very well the euro economics because he served two terms as European Commissioner. The thing that people here in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region> won’t like is that he’s not elected," he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;">That may prove key for the future of a Monti-led government as it tries to implement a 60-billion euro austerity package.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 12pt;">In the space of four days, Europe’s debt crisis has forced the leaders of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Greece</st1:country-region> and now <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region> from power. Yet many analysts say it’s not certain whether such upheaval will be enough to save the euro currency.---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Berlusconi Resigns, Ending Scandal-Plagued Era

By Henry Ridgwell from Rome Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has become the latest victim of the euro debt crisis. He was forced ...

Berlusconi Promises to Resign after Economic Reforms

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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span>Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says that he will resign after parliament passes crucial economic reforms aimed at stabilizing <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Italy</st1:country-region></st1:place>'s economy.<span>  </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span>Berlusconi made the announcement Tuesday after he lost parliamentary majority during a vote on a routine budget measure in the lower house, with seven ruling party members defecting.<span>  </span>The measure passed with 308 votes in favor, but 321 deputies abstained from voting.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span>After more than half the 630-seat chamber parliament refused to vote, the opposition called for Berlusconi to step down.<span>  </span>The beleaguered prime minister acknowledged that the lower house was paralyzed, while noting his coalition still has a majority in the Senate.<span>   </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span>Berlusconi is under the pressure by the eurozone leaders to pass a cost-reducing budget and avoid a financial crisis like the one in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Greece</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<span>  </span>Both houses of parliament are expected to vote on his budget reforms this month.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span>On Wednesday, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s 10-year bond yield topped 7 percent.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span>The prime minister reiterated Wednesday that he will step down as soon as the budget law is passed.<span>  </span>Berlusconi also told <st1:country-region w:st="on">Italy</st1:country-region>'s La Stampa newspaper that he sees <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region> holding elections in early 2012.<span>  </span>He will not seek office in the next election.<span>  </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span>Berlusconi has picked former justice minister Angelino Alfano as his party's candidate for the prime minister's post.<span>   </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><span>Italy</span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span> is the third largest economy in the Eurozone and the seventh largest in the world.<span>  </span>But it faces potential economic crisis caused by a ballooning public debt.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><span>Italy</span></st1:country-region><span>'s borrowing costs have increased to their highest level since it joined the common euro currency zone and are now close to the 7 percent level that pushed <st1:country-region w:st="on">Ireland</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Portugal</st1:country-region> and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Greece</st1:place></st1:country-region> to seek bailout loans.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span>The debt crisis sweeping the Eurozone has put pressure on Berlusconi's government to move quickly to enact unpopular austerity reforms to protect the Italian economy. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span>But Emiliano Alessandri of the German Marshall Fund in the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region> says even if Berlusconi left office, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region>'s problems would remain.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span>He says the idea <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Italy</st1:country-region></st1:place>'s structural problems will be solved by Berlusconi's political demise alone is "wishful thinking."---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Berlusconi Promises to Resign after Economic Reforms

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi says that he will resign after parliament passes crucial economic reforms aimed at stabilizing It...

Berlusconi Wins Budget Vote, Loses Political Majority

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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> </span></span>Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Tuesday won a crucial budget vote in parliament, but lost the support of a majority of lawmakers for his weakened government.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">While 308 lawmakers voted in favor of the budget bill, another 321 lawmakers abstained. No-one voted against. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">That meant that Berlusconi failed to gather the 316 votes necessary to have a majority of the parliament back his economic reforms.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The vote had been seen as a test of confidence in his political leadership.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">After more than half the parliament refused to vote, the opposition immediately called for the Mr. Berlusconi to resign. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Senate Finance Committee leader Mario Baldassarri told BBC TV that nobody could run the country "without a wider consensus or support."<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The debt crisis sweeping the Eurozone has put pressure on Berlusconi to move quickly to enact unpopular reforms to protect the Italian economy. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region> is the third largest economy in the Eurozone and the 7th largest in the world. But it faces potential economic crisis caused by a ballooning public debt.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">James Walston, professor of politics at the <st1:placename w:st="on">American</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype> of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Rome</st1:place></st1:city>, said prior to the result that even if Berlusconi survived the vote, he did not expect the Italian leader would keep his post much longer.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">"There are various possible moments when he could fail, I think by now it is inevitable that his government will come to an end," said Walston. "It might not come to an end today, or even tomorrow, but it will be very soon, because there is such immense pressure from the markets."<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region> has been hampered by a weak government and debts that are considered too large for its European partners to bail out. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">But Emiliano Alessandri of the German Marshall Fund in the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region> says even if Berlusconi is forced from office, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Italy</st1:country-region></st1:place>'s problems would remain.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">He says, "the idea that <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Italy</st1:country-region></st1:place>'s structural problems will be solved by his demise alone is wishful." ---VOA News</div></div>

Berlusconi Wins Budget Vote, Loses Political Majority

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Tuesday won a crucial budget vote in parliament, but lost the support of a majority of lawmak...

Italian PM Berlusconi named in U.S. human trafficking report

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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">MOSCOW</span></st1:city><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> (RIA Novosti) -Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been named in a <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">U.S.</st1:place></st1:country-region> government report on people trafficking over his alleged sexual relationship with underage Moroccan belly dancer Karima El Mahroug, known as Ruby.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“In February 2011, judges set a trial date for Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi for the alleged commercial sexual exploitation of a Moroccan child,” the report said. Based on media reports citing “evidence of third party involvement in the case,” the document's authors came to the conclusion that “the girl was a victim of trafficking.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Berlusconi, 75, is accused of having sexual relations with Ruby during one of his now infamous "bunga bunga" parties at his luxurious villa near <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Milan</st1:place></st1:city> when the girl was only 17 years old. She is believed to have been one of more than 30 women to attend Berlusconi’s parties.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“During the reporting period, the country's (<st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region>) prime minister was investigated for facilitating child prostitution,” the document, published on the U.S. Department of State website, reads.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The annual Trafficking in Persons Report is compiled from reports on human trafficking from 180 countries.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Italian opposition lawmakers have described Berlusconi’s inclusion in the report as "another shameful insult" for <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Berlusconi's trial for underage prostitution is to resume in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Milan</st1:place></st1:city> next month. Both he and his alleged victim have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">In mid-October, Berlusconi, who has been facing repeated calls for his resignation from his political rivals, won a crucial confidence vote in parliament, which could have forced him to step down about one and half years before the end of his term.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><br />
</div>

Italian PM Berlusconi named in U.S. human trafficking report

MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) -Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been named in a U.S. government report on people trafficking over his...

Italy’s Berlusconi ‘to step down’

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">MOSCOW</span></i></st1:place></st1:city><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> (RIA Novosti)-Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has drawn up a deal with his key coalition ally under which he will step down at the end of the year, the La Repubblica newspaper reported on Wednesday.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">As part of the “secret pact,” which came during late-night talks between Berlusconi and Northern League leader Umberto Bossi, the 75-year-old will resign in return for Bossi accepting a pension age increase, according to the paper.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Italy, which is running a 1.8 trillion euro public debt, has been under immense pressure from the EU to reform its pension system and raise the retirement age.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The Northern League denied the report, which came just hours ahead of a crucial EU meeting in Brussels, telling the BBC it was an attempt to undermine Berlusconi.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“Don’t make a fool of me in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Brussels</st1:place></st1:city>, and I promise that we’ll go to elections in March," Berlusconi told the Northern League leader, according to La Repubblica.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Observers said Berlusconi might be hoping he would be re-elected at next year’s polls.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div></div>

Italy’s Berlusconi ‘to step down’

MOSCOW (RIA Novosti)-Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has drawn up a deal with his key coalition ally under which he will step dow...

135 injured in Rome’s worst violence in years

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">ROME, October 17 (RIA Novosti)- The number of those injured in Saturday’s street violence in Rome, the worst in years, has risen to 135, the Ansa news agency has reported.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Clashes between police and protesters erupted on a day of worldwide protests against global financial policies as hundreds of masked, hooded protesters torched cars, smashed shop and bank windows and set fire to dumpsters and military depot building in the city centre.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Out of those injured in the violence 105 were police officers and 30 protesters, two of whom, injured by exploding smoke bombs, had fingers amputated, the repot said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Previous reports put the number of those injured at 70.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">It took police about four hours to disperse the protesters using tear gas and water canons. Twelve people, aged between 20 and 30, have been arrested. The cost of the damage caused by the riots has been estimated at more than 1 million euros ($1.4 million).<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">The country’s interior minister, Roberto Maroni, condemned the "unprecedented violence,” while Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno described those responsible for the unrest as "animals.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Some 100,000 people took part in the demonstration in the Italian capital as thousands of people in some 950 other cities in 80 countries took to the streets on Saturday in solidarity with the month-long Occupy The Wall Street action in New York against what they called “the financial terrorism” of the authorities.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

135 injured in Rome’s worst violence in years

ROME, October 17 (RIA Novosti)- The number of those injured in Saturday’s street violence in Rome, the worst in years, has risen to 135, th...