By Prensa Latina,
Rome : US President George W. Bush is visiting Rome in the middle of strong protests against his policy with respect to Iraq and to the extended deployment of security measures.
Some thousand people from Italian left parties and pacifist groups demonstrated against the visit of Bush, to whom they described as Gentleman of the War.
Marco Fernando, leader of the Communist Party of Workers, said those actions are aimed at denouncing all crimes committed by US President in many parts of the world.
Groups of students demanded the withdrawal of Italian soldiers from Afghanistan as well as putting an end to all wars.
The protest took place all along several streets of Rome and concluded near US embassy.
Bush will meet with Head of State Giorgio Napolitano, and Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who supported US troops during the unilateral aggression to Iraq, in March 2003.
He will also be welcomed in private hearing by Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican headquarters before leaving on Friday.
US President traveled to Italy, coming from Germany, where he was welcomed by Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel.