(2 Mar 2002)
1. Thousands of flag-waving protesters passing coliseum
2. Flags and crowd in front of coliseum
3. Mid shot of protesters raising left fist
4. Leftist leaders including Massimo D'Alema and Giovanna Melandri surrounded by security in the protests
5. SOUNDBITE (Italian) Walter Veltroni, Mayor of Rome:
"We are here, as in all democracies when the opposition feels that the government isn't working, that the government is exasperating social, political and institutional conflicts. Therefore, it is correct that we react not only in parliament but also with a big, serene, peaceful protests like this one."
6. Poster of caricature of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi with Pinocchio nose
7. SOUNDBITE (Italian) vox pop protestor:
"This? This represents the lies that are Berlusconi."
8. Olive branch, representing the Olive Tree coalition
9. SOUNDBITE (Italian) vox pop protestor:
"Because our president (PM) tells a lot of lies."
10. Road full of protesters
11. Mid shot of poster
12. Mid shot of flags from political parties
13. Mid shot marchers
14. Close shot of woman wearing Pinocchio nose
15. Mid shot people with balloons
STORYLINE:
Tens of thousands of opposition supporters - many sporting paper noses to mock conservative Premier Silvio Berlusconi - marched through central Rome on Saturday to denounce the government and assert the unity of the centre-left.
The demonstrators from around the nation blew whistles and waved flags as they marched past ancient Roman ruins on a route through the heart of the capital. Many waved banners accusing Berlusconi of being a liar, or wore paper noses mimicing the fairy-tale character Pinochio, whose nose grew when he told lies.
The center-left Olive Tree coalition lost power in May, and has been plagued by internal dissent and accusations of weak leadership ever since. The rally on Saturday sought to counter that impression, and organisers said they expected about 150,000 people to turn out.
Tension between left and right heightened over the past week, when parliament debated controversial conflict-of-interest legislation.
The government introduced the legislation to counter criticism of possible conflicts between Berlusconi's role as both Italy's richest businessman and its most powerful official.
But the opposition says the bill is toothless, and after shouting matches in parliament they walked out during voting Thursday. The centre-right majority passed the bill, which now goes to the Senate, where Berlusconi's coalition also enjoys a comfortable majority.
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