Protests pose 'grave threats' to Bush visit, says Italian minister

Italy's Interior Minister, Giuseppe Pisanu, warned yesterday of "grave threats" looming over demonstrations planned for the visit of President George Bush to Rome next week.

He insisted that Italians have "the right to demonstrate their opinions peacefully and without weapons," while others have "the right to go about their daily lives". He added: "Let it be clear to all that we won't leave any space for violence."

Mr Bush will be in Italy on 4-5 June. However, on 2 June, Italy marks Republic Day. Both occasions are expected to draw thousands of demonstrators protesting against the war and occupation in Iraq, as well as the Italian government's seemingly staunch support for the American administration.

A protest leader, Luca Casarini, said in an interview with La Stampa: "If a criminal of the calibre of Bush is fêted with all honours, rage is the right reaction." Mr Casarini was evasive when asked about rumours that protesters would be trying to block President Bush's motorcade, saying "There's nothing prearranged."

http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=526013

Thanks for posting this article! O8)

It sounds like this guy is sending them a veiled warning not to show up.

...rage is the right reaction."

great quote.

pretty much ignored by our media when * visited last November, and *'s choppers and security goons trashed the Queen's centuries old gardens at Buckingham Palace upon his departure? Peggy Noonan minimized the enormous gathering by reducing it to "a couple of dozen people kicking around the pigeons at Trafalgar Square," while the rest of the media focused on Michael Jackson's arrest for days until the news from London blew over.

So what high profile and expendible celebrity's deviance will provide us a sensationally inflated distraction from the protests in Italy. . . ?

At the risk of generalizing based on ethnic stereotypes, a bunch of angry Italians may just make the toppling of the golden foil effigy of * in London, seem like a civilized though unusual "high tea," by comparison.

I hope they create a real ruckus. . .abondonza!!!

Duplicate please continue discussion in this thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=587388&mesg_id=587388