Thousands of students blocked the centre of Rome on Tuesday as part of nation-wide protests against proposed budget cuts in the university system that are set to be put to a vote later in the day. Up to 50,000 students formed spontaneous processions throughout the capital in a concerted attempt to "paralyse" the city, dubbed "Block Everything Day," organisers said. According to the Italian Students' Union (UDS), "more than 400,000 thousand students are rallying throughout Italy."
Police in riot gear blocked all entrances to the Chamber of Deputies, where ministers prepared to vote on the reforms, and officers were forced to redirect traffic as the city centre was brought to a standstill in several areas. Bewildered tourists looked on as traffic was re-routed through area around the Trevi Fountain, which is usually pedestrianised. Students and academics are outraged over cuts of around nine billion euros and 130,000 jobs in the education system that Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government has vowed to carry out by 2013.
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