Thousands of workers, students and citizens have protested in over 60 Italian cities on Friday, within the framework of a general strike called by the USB union, against increasing the cost of living, war, reconstruction and policies of Prime Minister Giorgia Melon.

According to the Italian news agency ANSA, the protests took place mainly peacefully, but there were limited clashes between protesters and police in Rome, Turin and Vicence.

In Rome a group of protesters broke out of the main march and headed for Colosseum, where they ran into the police. Protesters threw items in the direction of the law enforcement forces, set up garbage containers as barricades and set down some of them.

In Turin, police used cannons and intervened to disperse protesters near the Prefecture building.

Meanwhile, according to Reuters, some demonstrators entered the city’s street ring in Milan and set some objects on fire.

Strikes and protests were organised by the USB Union, with demands for higher salaries, better public services, protection of workers’ rights and opposition to arms spending.

According to ANSA, the union claimed that about 1.5 million workers and citizens participated in the strike.

Source Layer: RTKLive