Rome police charge protesters amid Hollande, Letta meeting

(ANSA) – Rome, November 20 – Police charged a group of protesters throwing bottles near the French embassy in Rome Wednesday as Italian Premier Enrico Letta met with French President Francois Hollande on the other side of the city. The protesters, some of whom hid their identities in helmets and hoodies, had attempted to penetrate a police barricade. Demonstrators Wednesday ranged from anti-austerity protesters and anti-capitalists to members of the No-TAV movement, which is against the construction of a high-speed rail line across the French-Italian border.

Letta and Hollande were miles away at Villa Madama where the TAV rail line was up for discussion, along with pressing issues facing Europe such as economic growth and high unemployment. Government buildings around the capital were under a high level of police protection, with several streets blocked off across the city.