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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Anti-US protest planned in Italy | Anti-US protest planned in Italy |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Tens of thousands of Italians are planning to demonstrate against the extension of a US army base in the northern city of Vicenza. | Tens of thousands of Italians are planning to demonstrate against the extension of a US army base in the northern city of Vicenza. |
| The protest organisers say the majority of local residents are opposed to the expansion of the base. | The protest organisers say the majority of local residents are opposed to the expansion of the base. |
| They say Prime Minister Romano Prodi has ignored the strong local objections to the site's enlargement. | They say Prime Minister Romano Prodi has ignored the strong local objections to the site's enlargement. |
| There are fears that extremist fringe groups will try to cause violence at what is planned as a peaceful march. | There are fears that extremist fringe groups will try to cause violence at what is planned as a peaceful march. |
| The Americans established a military presence in Vicenza over half a century ago. | The Americans established a military presence in Vicenza over half a century ago. |
| Violence fears | |
| President George W Bush wants to beef up the base, the headquarters of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, by transferring from Germany to Italy another 2,000 US soldiers. | President George W Bush wants to beef up the base, the headquarters of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, by transferring from Germany to Italy another 2,000 US soldiers. |
| This would bring the total number of American troops stationed in Vicenza to nearly 5,000. | This would bring the total number of American troops stationed in Vicenza to nearly 5,000. |
| The American base provides over 1,000 jobs to locals in Vicenza and injects millions of dollars into the local economy. | The American base provides over 1,000 jobs to locals in Vicenza and injects millions of dollars into the local economy. |
| If the Americans were to pack up and leave this would have serious local economic consequences. | If the Americans were to pack up and leave this would have serious local economic consequences. |
| The centre-left government in Rome is embarrassingly split between those who want to respect the decision of the previous centre-right coalition to agree to Washington's request, and those who would like to see the Americans out. | The centre-left government in Rome is embarrassingly split between those who want to respect the decision of the previous centre-right coalition to agree to Washington's request, and those who would like to see the Americans out. |
| The mayor of Vicenza says he fears the demonstration will be infiltrated by left-wing extremists from other EU countries intent on causing violence, just as in Genoa six years ago when rioting during a G8 summit caused heavy damage, a death and many injuries. | The mayor of Vicenza says he fears the demonstration will be infiltrated by left-wing extremists from other EU countries intent on causing violence, just as in Genoa six years ago when rioting during a G8 summit caused heavy damage, a death and many injuries. |