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    March 09, 2012

Thousands of Anti-Government Protesters March in Rome

   VOA News
   A worker from Italy's radical metalworkers union Fiom holds up a flare
   during an eight hour strike in Rome, March 9, 2012.
   Photo: Reuters
   A worker from Italy's radical metalworkers union Fiom holds up a flare
   during an eight hour strike in Rome, March 9, 2012.

   Thousands of protesters with banners and flags have converged on the
   center of Rome, protesting government cutbacks and reforms.
   They are upset over labor reforms introduced by Prime Minister Mario
   Monti as part of new austerity measures to pay down the Italy's debt
   and improve the country's solvency.
   Monti has promoted reforming the labor market to boost the economy, but
   critics say his plan will worsen the economy, especially for the middle
   class.
   Italian officials are negotiating with unions to repeal a more than
   40-year-old labor statute, which requires employers to financially
   compensate and reinstate workers wrongfully dismissed.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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