THOUSANDS OF ITALIANS WATCHED A MILITARY PARADE IN ROME YESTERDAY (SUNDAY) MARKING THE REPUBLIC'S 22ND ANNIVERSARY AS THE COUNTRY WENT BACK TO UNEASY RULE BY MINORITY GOVERNMENT FOLLOWING THE WITHDRAWAL OF THE SOCIALISTS FROM THEIR COALITION WITH THE CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS.

OVER 9,000 TROOPS TOOK PART IN THE PARADE THROUGH THE CAPITAL'S STREETS LED BY CADETS OF ITALY'S MILITARY ACADEMIES. UNITS OF THE ARMY AND NAVY FOLLOWED WHILE OVERHEAD MORE THAN 200 AIRCRAFT TOOK PART IN A FLY PAST.

WATCHING THE PARADE FROM THE SALUTING BASE WAS PRESIDENT GIUSEPPE SARAGAT. HE WAS FLANKED BY MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS.

THE COALITION WHICH HAS GIVEN ITALY RELATIVE STABILITY FOR THE PAST FIVE YEARS, WILL OFFICIALLY RESIGN ON WEDNESDAY (5 MAY) WHEN PARLIAMENT REASSEMBLES. SUCCEEDING IT WILL BE THE MINORITY GOVERNMENT OF CHRISTIAN DEMOCRATS WITH ONLY 275 SEATS OUT OF 630.

ONE OF THE MOST PRESSING PROBLEMS FACING THEM WILL BE THE SEETHING STUDENTS UNREST. STUDENTS HAVE OCCUPIED ROME UNIVERSITY AND ARE PLANNING FURTHER ACTION FOLLOWING FRIDAY'S (31 MAY) RIOTS OUTSIDE
THE FRENCH EMBASSY.

THE ITALIAN GOVERNMENT PARTY HAS ALSO APPEALED FOR A VAST MOVEMENT OF UNITY AND "FULL SOLIDARITY IN ALL FORMS WITH THE PEOPLE OF FRANCE."