Bloggers organise 'No Berlusconi Day' protest

A group of bloggers have organised a protest in Rome to demand the resignation of scandal-ridden Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. They estimate a turnout of 350,000 participants for what they are calling “No Berlusconi Day.”

The movement has its own web site, www.noberlusconiday.org, which was launched in October by a half-dozen bloggers. One of the organisers, Gianfranco Macia, wrote on the site that the movement was “the first initiative of its kind totally mobilised on the internet.”

Protests are also scheduled in London, Paris, and Sydney.

The goal of “No Berlusconi Day” is to urge the resignation of Berlusconi and his government and to “flush out all forms of Berlusconism,” according to Gabriella Magnano, another organiser.

The organisers claim that they are independent and not under the influence of any political party.

While the organisers expect 350,000 participants, Mascia said, “The number is not essential because our primary goal is to inform citizens who have no internet access.”