More than 2 million protest in Rome over government response to crisis

Rome: At least 2.7 million people joined a rally in Rome on Saturday to protest the government's response to the economic crisis, union organiser said.

Rome's ancient Circus Maximus was awash in red as demonstrators converged on the downtown field for a day of demonstrations, speeches and music.

The Cgil union, Italy's largest, organised the demonstration to protest the government's response to the global economic downturn.

It says that 40 special trains, two boats and 4,800 buses brought Italians from across the country to the Rome rally.