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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Italians march in US base protest | Italians march in US base protest |
| (2 days later) | |
| Tens of thousands of people have marched in the north-eastern Italian city of Vicenza against a planned extension of the US army base there. | Tens of thousands of people have marched 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. |
| Mr Prodi is going ahead with a plan agreed by his pro-US predecessor, Silvio Berlusconi. | Mr Prodi is going ahead with a plan agreed by his pro-US predecessor, Silvio Berlusconi. |
| Despite fears of possible violence, the march passed off peacefully. | Despite fears of possible violence, the march passed off peacefully. |
| Schools normally opened on Saturday were closed, and the US embassy warned Americans to avoid the city, as Mr Prodi appealed for protestors to avoid violence. | Schools normally opened on Saturday were closed, and the US embassy warned Americans to avoid the city, as Mr Prodi appealed for protestors to avoid violence. |
| Vicenza's mayor had feared the march would be infiltrated by left-wing radicals from other EU states intent on causing violence. | |
| In Genoa six years ago clashes between police and anti-globalisation protesters during a G8 summit resulted in one death and many injuries, as well as serious damage. | |
| Organisers said 100,000 people attended the Vicenza march, while police put the number at 40,000. | |
| Ministers banned | Ministers banned |
| Marchers carried banners reading "America, No Thanks" and "Bases Go Home", and waved rainbow-coloured peace flags. | Marchers carried banners reading "America, No Thanks" and "Bases Go Home", and waved rainbow-coloured peace flags. |
| "There is no reason to have this base here," said Antonio Faitta, 25, who travelled from Genoa for the protest. | "There is no reason to have this base here," said Antonio Faitta, 25, who travelled from Genoa for the protest. |
| Special trains and buses from various parts of Italy arrived in Vicenza for the march. | Special trains and buses from various parts of Italy arrived in Vicenza for the march. |
| People want to impose with violence a base that nobody wants Local man | People want to impose with violence a base that nobody wants Local man |
| Many of them had been chartered by leftist parties and the Greens, members of Mr Prodi's ruling coalition, although the prime minister had banned ministers from attending the march. | Many of them had been chartered by leftist parties and the Greens, members of Mr Prodi's ruling coalition, although the prime minister had 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. | 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". | 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. | "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." | "Other people want to impose with violence a base that nobody wants." |
| Transfer from Germany | 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 strengthen 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 strengthen 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 could have serious local economic consequences. | A withdrawal could have serious local economic consequences. |