Thousands protest Bush in Rome

Demonstrators clashed with police in central Rome on June 9 as President Bush wound up a visit to Pope Benedict and Italian leaders. Hours after Bush had discussed Middle East peace with Pope Benedict and was wrapping up meetings with Italian politicians, police in riot gear charged and fired tear gas at demonstrators who had thrown bottles at them in Rome's historic center. The protesters, some wearing motorcycle helmets and bandanas to cover their faces, shattered a window of a bank and overturned outdoor dining tables on some of Rome's most famous streets. Several policemen and demonstrators were injured. Tear gas wafted into Rome's historic Piazza Navona, which had been the scene of a demonstration that was for the most part peaceful. Anti-US graffiti was spray-painted on some statues and restaurants and shopkeepers lowered their shutters. The incident was far from where Bush was staying at the US ambassador's residence in another quarter of the city and on the other side of the Tiber River from the Vatican. It was Bush's first meeting with Pope Benedict since the former Cardinal was elected to lead the world's Roman Catholics in 2005.