Most Italians do not want their troops in Iraq and opposed the war.
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Bush faces Italian anger on Iraq
Thousands of police are patrolling the streets of Rome as US President George W Bush begins a three-day visit to Europe for World War II ceremonies.
He arrived in the Italian capital amid fears of violent demonstrations by opponents of the US-led war in Iraq.
Rome strongly backs Mr Bush's war on terror and has 2,900 troops in Iraq.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is among Mr Bush's closest European allies.
Some protesters have already clashed with police
Despite the opposition of most people in Italy, including the Pope, to the war in Iraq, Mr Berlusconi has repeatedly pledged he will keep Italian troops in Iraq and rejected suggestions that they might leave early.
As security forces cordoned off entire areas of Rome in preparation for the visit, Mr Berlusconi said he was worried about violence and called on protesters to show "maturity and understanding of history".
The US president will spend two days in the Italian capital before travelling to France for D-Day commemorations.
Wreath laying
The BBC's Clive Myrie, who is travelling with the US president, says this is an important trip to Europe for Mr Bush - an opportunity to push for a new UN resolution on Iraq with some key Nato allies face to face.
But recent images of Italian hostages being held in Iraq have reinforced opposition to the war among many Italians, our correspondent says.
Some anti-war campaigners were out on the streets on Wednesday as a military parade marked Republic Day.
Others have said they will try to disrupt Mr Bush's visit by blocking roads and attempting to break through barriers erected to protect his entourage.
Some protests are expected to focus on the centre of Rome while Mr Bush lays a wreath at a memorial to victims of a massacre by Nazis several miles away at the Ardeatine Caves, or Fosse Ardeatine.
One Italian protester said: "We are going to disrupt this visit because we intend to exercise our right as citizens, because this city rejected the war throughout this whole year and this city cannot do anything but to refuse this war's leader."
The US state department has warned Americans in Italy of the "potential for violence".
A notice to US citizens says: "The US embassy advises Americans to avoid areas in which crowds are expected to gather. Not all demonstrations are expected to be peaceful."
Rome police chief Achille Serra said he had not had any indications of the possibility of terrorist attacks targeting the visit, but there were "signs of a difficult situation regarding public order".
"If there is violence it will be violence for violence sake," he said.
"When the world is so mixed and especially when protesters are planning to demonstrate in so many different locations in the city, it becomes difficult to predict."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3773545.stm
-----------------------------------
Bush faces Italian anger on Iraq
Thousands of police are patrolling the streets of Rome as US President George W Bush begins a three-day visit to Europe for World War II ceremonies.
He arrived in the Italian capital amid fears of violent demonstrations by opponents of the US-led war in Iraq.
Rome strongly backs Mr Bush's war on terror and has 2,900 troops in Iraq.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is among Mr Bush's closest European allies.
Some protesters have already clashed with police
Despite the opposition of most people in Italy, including the Pope, to the war in Iraq, Mr Berlusconi has repeatedly pledged he will keep Italian troops in Iraq and rejected suggestions that they might leave early.
As security forces cordoned off entire areas of Rome in preparation for the visit, Mr Berlusconi said he was worried about violence and called on protesters to show "maturity and understanding of history".
The US president will spend two days in the Italian capital before travelling to France for D-Day commemorations.
Wreath laying
The BBC's Clive Myrie, who is travelling with the US president, says this is an important trip to Europe for Mr Bush - an opportunity to push for a new UN resolution on Iraq with some key Nato allies face to face.
But recent images of Italian hostages being held in Iraq have reinforced opposition to the war among many Italians, our correspondent says.
Some anti-war campaigners were out on the streets on Wednesday as a military parade marked Republic Day.
Others have said they will try to disrupt Mr Bush's visit by blocking roads and attempting to break through barriers erected to protect his entourage.
Some protests are expected to focus on the centre of Rome while Mr Bush lays a wreath at a memorial to victims of a massacre by Nazis several miles away at the Ardeatine Caves, or Fosse Ardeatine.
One Italian protester said: "We are going to disrupt this visit because we intend to exercise our right as citizens, because this city rejected the war throughout this whole year and this city cannot do anything but to refuse this war's leader."
The US state department has warned Americans in Italy of the "potential for violence".
A notice to US citizens says: "The US embassy advises Americans to avoid areas in which crowds are expected to gather. Not all demonstrations are expected to be peaceful."
Rome police chief Achille Serra said he had not had any indications of the possibility of terrorist attacks targeting the visit, but there were "signs of a difficult situation regarding public order".
"If there is violence it will be violence for violence sake," he said.
"When the world is so mixed and especially when protesters are planning to demonstrate in so many different locations in the city, it becomes difficult to predict."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3773545.stm
