BBC News | EUROPE | In pictures: Italy on strike

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Tuesday, 16 April, 2002, 15:17 GMT 16:17 UK

In pictures: Italy on strike

Red banners fluttered on the central squares of Italy's historic cities on Tuesday as the country's unions led a general strike against labour reforms.

People from every walk of life were out for the action, which was as much a protest against Silvio Berlusconi's government as the actual reforms.

Demonstrators on Turin's Piazza San Carlo

Sergio Cofferati, head of CGIL, Italy's largest and most militant union

Rally by Milan's cathedral

Demonstrators with copy of The Fourth State by painter Giuseppe Pellizza da Volpedos (1901)

The Colosseum stands closed to tourists in Rome

Related to this story:
Millions strike in Italy (16 Apr 02 | Europe) Italy media on strike (15 Apr 02 | Europe) Italy's politicised strike (15 Apr 02 | Europe) Flights grounded by Italian strike (16 Apr 02 | Business) Analysis: Italy's labour dilemma (24 Mar 02 | Europe)

Internet links: Italian Government | CISL - Confederazione Italiana Sindacati Lavoratori | CGIL - Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro (in Italian) | UIL - Unione Italiana del Lavoro |
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