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Crowds gather for anti-US march Italians march in US base protest
(30 minutes later)
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. Thousands of people are marching in the north-eastern Italian city of Vicenza against a planned extension of the US army base there.
Organisers say the majority of local people are opposed to US plans. They say Prime Minister Romano Prodi has ignored strong local objections.Organisers say the majority of local people are opposed to US plans. They say Prime Minister Romano Prodi has ignored strong local objections.
Thousands of extra police are on duty in Vicenza for what is planned as a peaceful march. Thousands of extra police are on duty in Vicenza for what has been planned as a peaceful march.
There are fears that extremist fringe groups will try to cause violence. There are fears that radical fringe groups will try to cause violence.
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. Vicenza's mayor fears the march will be infiltrated by left-wing radicals 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.
Mask ban Ministers banned
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 Rome. Special trains and buses from various parts of Italy arrived in Vicenza for the protest march.
Schools and shops are closed and thousands of extra police are on duty. We love our town and we want to protect it - other people want to impose with violence a base that nobody wants Local man
Families in carnival costume plan to join the march. But they have been banned from wearing carnival masks. Many of them have been chartered by leftist parties and the Greens, members of Mr Prodi's ruling coalition, although the prime minister has banned ministers from attending the march.
The BBC's David Willey in Rome says the centre-left government 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.
Thousands set off from the town's railway station with banners such as "No To The Bases" and "America No Thanks".
"We love our town and we want to protect it," a local protester told the BBC.
"Other people want to impose with violence a base that nobody wants."
Schools and shops are closed and thousands of extra police are on duty. Police helicopters could be heard overhead.
Transfer from Germany
The Americans established a military presence in Vicenza more than half a century ago.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 US 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 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.
A withdrawal would have serious local economic consequences. A withdrawal could have serious local economic consequences.
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.