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Anti-US protest planned in Italy Crowds gather for anti-US march
(about 9 hours later)
Tens of thousands of Italians are planning to demonstrate against the extension of a US army base in the northern city of Vicenza. Thousands of people have been arriving in the north-eastern Italian city of Vicenza for a march against a planned extension of the US army base there.
The protest organisers say the majority of local residents are opposed to the expansion of the base. Organisers say the majority of local people are opposed to US plans. They say Prime Minister Romano Prodi has ignored strong local objections.
They say Prime Minister Romano Prodi has ignored the strong local objections to the site's enlargement. Thousands of extra police are on duty in Vicenza for 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. There are fears that extremist fringe groups will try to cause violence.
The Americans established a military presence in Vicenza over half a century ago. Vicenza's mayor fears the march will be infiltrated by left-wing extremists from other EU states intent on causing violence - as happened in Genoa six years ago, when rioting during a G8 summit caused heavy damage, one death and many injuries.
Violence fears Mask ban
Special trains and buses from various parts of Italy have been arriving since dawn in Vicenza for the protest march, says the BBC's David Willey in the city.
Schools and shops are closed and thousands of extra police are on duty.
Families in carnival costume plan to join the march. But they have been banned from wearing carnival masks.
The Americans established a military presence in Vicenza more than half a century ago.
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 US 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 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. A withdrawal 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. Our correspondent says 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.