EC warns Italy over Naples rubbish riots
The European Commission has warned Italy it may face sanctions if it does not clean up the 2,000 tons of rubbish that have piled up on Naples streets in the country's latest collection crisis.
European Environment Commissioner Janez Potocnik said today the latest outbreak of violence between residents and police over where to put Naples' rubbish shows that Italy has not taken sufficient measures to deal with the crisis.
For more than a week protesters have set vehicles ablaze, burned Italian flags and hurled stones and firecrackers at police.
The residents are protesting about stench and poor conditions of the local dump, as well as plans to open a new one in the Vesuvio National Park.
Clashes continued overnight but the situation was calm today.
