TOWN AFTER RUNNING BATTLE; WORKERS IN STREETS; MAYOR TALKING TO CROWD; DAMAGED CARS; GENERAL SCENES.




Initials GS/V-TELE/AS/SGM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: FRESH RIOTING BROKE OUT IN THE SOUTHERN ITALIAN TOWN OF BATTIPAGLIA TODAY (THURSDAY) AND WORKERS THROUGHOUT ITALY HAVE RALLIED IN SUPPORT OF THE STRIKERS AND DEMONSTRATORS. TODAY WAS THE SECOND DAY OF THE COUNTRY'S WORST LABOUR UPRISING FOR 10 YEARS.

THE NEW OUTBURST CAME AFTER 2000 POLICEMEN, WHO WERE ORDERED INTO BATTIPAGLIA YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED AND 200 HURT IN CLASHES, WERE WITHDRAWN. THE BATTIPAGLIA WORKERS ARE PROTESTING AGAINST RISING UNEMPLOYMENT. TODAY THEY BURNED AND WRECKED MOTOR VEHICLES, SET UP ROAD BLOCKS AND BARRICADES, AND STONED MOTORISTS TRYING TO BREAK THROUGH.

MAYOR DOMENICO VICINANZA MOVED AMONG THEM WITH A LOUD-HAILER, ASKING THEM TO CALM DOWN AND GO HOME. THE UNEMPLOYMENT SITUATION HAS GROWN STEADILY WORSE AND HAS NOW RISEN TO A PEAK WITH THE CLOSING DOWN OF BATTIPAGLIA'S TOBACCO FACTORY, WHICH EMPLOYED 600 PEOPLE.