Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi has been embarrassed after a desperate attempt to organise a state march only attracted 40,000 in sharp contrast to 150,000 people who marched to oppose the WTO in Rome.

The anti-WTO and war march that began in Piazza Repubblica ended 6.30 Italian time. Protestors carried banners with slogans saying, "no to this military, social and economic war". Various immigrant groups were greeted with applauds by people on the streets throughout the march. During the demonstration, the student movement targeted two banks financing the defence industry covering windows with posters saying, "not in my name" and "no war".

In another action, students threw pink paint on mathematical research institute "Centro ricerche matematiche del Cnr" and private school Santa Maria. The police in Rome took no action after global and national criticism of the oppressive tactics used in Genoa during the notorious G8 summit which ended with the death of 23-year-old protestor Carlo Guiliani.

Anti-globalisation figure Luca Casarini called upon Italian soldiers to change their jobs on moral grounds and also promised to support any deserting soldiers.

Figures for both marches were hotly disputed. Initially, police claimed there were only 50,000 anti-WTO protestors but independent estimates claimed it was more than double this figure. Independent alternative station GAP radio put the figure at around 200,000.

Official figures of the poorly attended state march claimed 40,000 people protested at Piazza del Popolo, the People's Square but others claimed that only 20,000 filled a virtually empty square. This was despite Berlusconi laying on transport and using his media empire to throw weight behind promoting the US led war in Afghanistan not to mention abusing his political position to manipulate the Italian public.

The pro-US marchers carried American flags and chanted "not to forget" on what was called a US-day in an attempt to galvanise support for Italian soldiers being sent to join US and UK troops in Afghanistan. Berlusconi even suggested an annual celebration of the September 11 terrorist attacks following the footsteps of deputy pm Gianfranco Fini, famous for his political gaffes. Berlusconi's readiness to celebrate terrorism showed a marked disrespect for the Italian people. He failed to mention the many Italian lives lost in the fascist terrorist attack that killed 83 people when the Italian Christian democrat government pursued the strategy of tension policy on August 2, 1980.