Clashes Hit Rome During French President's Visit

Protesters angry about high-speed rail construction

Italians opposed to the construction of a high-speed train between the Italian city of Turin and the French city of Lyon have clashed with police in Rome during a visit by French President Francois Hollande.

Hollande was nowhere near the site when a small number of protesters battled with riot police Wednesday as they tried to reach the French Embassy. He was meeting instead with Premier Enrico Letta at a government villa on the other side of town, where the two confirmed the high-speed train project was going ahead as planned.