Italy bans phones from ballot box

There are more mobile phones than people in Italy

Italians have been told to leave their mobile phones outside voting booths in this month's general election.

The interior ministry said any device that could take pictures or video clips would have to be checked in outside the polling station.

The measure has been introduced to safeguard the secrecy of the vote, and to prevent fraud.

It is feared people could show pictures of their ballot papers to politicians they voted for in return for influence.

Mobile phones are very popular in Italy.

Eurostat said that by 2005 there were more mobile phones than people in Italy - 122 phones per 100 residents.

Anyone violating the new rule will be subject to detention or a fine.