Far-right Rome protest turns briefly violent

Rome

A rally in Rome staged by Italian far-right extremists and hardcore football fans over the government's response to the coronavirus pandemic had turned briefly violent after a fight between demonstrators, the media reported.

On Saturday, hundreds took the streets of the Italian capital and called on the government to resign over its handling of the crisis and the damage wrought on the economy and jobs, reports the BBC.

The protesters gathered in the ancient area around the Circus Maximus.

With more than 33,800 fatalities and 234,000 cases since the coronavirus outbreak began, Italy has been one of the hardest-hit countries in the world.

The country has entered its final phase in easing lockdown restrictions, allowing domestic travel between regions and opening its international borders.

Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has said the government was working to speed up social payments and pledged "a serious tax reform".

Shops, cafes and restaurants had already opened their doors again, and tourist sites have begun welcoming tourists in recent days.