More police probed over Genoa violence

The violence marred the two-day summit

Prosecutors in Italy say they are investigating 48 more police officers on suspicion of violence against anti-globalisation protesters at last year's G8 summit in Genoa.

This brings to 77 the number of police under investigation for their alleged role in the clashes last July.

Protesters said they were beaten with clubs

They are being investigated on suspicion of attacking anti-globalisation demonstrators in a pre-dawn raid on a school.

One person died and hundreds of police and protesters were injured in street battles as world leaders met in the city.

Protesters claim the police broke into the Diaz school in the early hours of 22 July and assaulted people sleeping inside.

Demonstrators said riot police beat them with clubs, smashed windows and wrecked computers in the raid.

Sixty-three people were hurt in the violence and 93 protesters were arrested.

Police accused

Italian media reported that police are being investigated over claims they failed to stop the violence.

Police say they found weapons in the school

Genoa prosecutor Francesco Meloni said the police were placed under investigation as a result of continuing inquiries, rather than because of any new evidence.

The Italian police have defended their tactics, saying they needed to respond to protesters who came to Genoa to cause violence during the summit.

Campaigners said the school was being used to train protesters in non-violent direct action.

Police said they found weapons in the building, including petrol bombs, sledgehammers and metal bars.

More than people were arrested in two days of clashes which marred the conference.

Most of those detained were later released.