The largest labour union in Italy, the CGIL, has called a demonstration in Rome for 4 April to protest the rising unemployment, falling salaries and weakened pensions that have resulted from Italy's faltering economy.

At 09.00, five separate marches will start out from Piazza della Repubblica, Piazzale dei Navigatori (EUR), Piazzale dei Parigiani (Piramide), Piazza Ragusa (S. Giovanni) and Piazzale delle Crociate (near Tiburtina station) to converge at Circo Massimo. At 12.30 CGIL chairman Guglielmo Epifani will address the protesters followed by a concert by