Rome, Italy, Jun. 4 (UPI) -- Thousands filled Rome's streets Friday to protest President Bush's visit and their own country's involvement in the Iraq war, CNN reported.
Police deployed some 10,000 officers around Rome as an estimated 500,000 protested Bush's arrival and Italy's active support of the U.S. war in Iraq.
Protests, which were largely peaceful, reached a peak shortly after Bush had an audience with Pope John Paul II in Vatican City. During that meeting Bush gave the pontiff the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest U.S. honor given to civilians.
On the first stop of his 36-hour European tour, Bush also met with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, a supporter of the Iraq war.
The prime minister has committed troops to the conflict despite the opposition of a majority of Italians. Twenty Italian soldiers and four civilians have been killed in the war.
On Saturday, Bush travels to Paris to meet French President Jacques Chirac, another war opponent, before heading to Normandy on Sunday to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.
Police deployed some 10,000 officers around Rome as an estimated 500,000 protested Bush's arrival and Italy's active support of the U.S. war in Iraq.
Protests, which were largely peaceful, reached a peak shortly after Bush had an audience with Pope John Paul II in Vatican City. During that meeting Bush gave the pontiff the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest U.S. honor given to civilians.
On the first stop of his 36-hour European tour, Bush also met with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, a supporter of the Iraq war.
The prime minister has committed troops to the conflict despite the opposition of a majority of Italians. Twenty Italian soldiers and four civilians have been killed in the war.
On Saturday, Bush travels to Paris to meet French President Jacques Chirac, another war opponent, before heading to Normandy on Sunday to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.
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