Students, riot police clash in italy

Students march during a demonstration in Rome. Thousands of students gathered to protest a new university law as police blocked off large parts of the city centre to prevent a repeat of the violent clash at a similar march week ago. The new education law, which the government says will strengthen Italy's crumbling university system but which critics say will merely cut funding, was due for final approval in the Senate. Photo: Reuters

Students march during a demonstration in Rome. Thousands of students gathered to protest a new university law as police blocked off large parts of the city centre to prevent a repeat of the violent clash at a similar march week ago. The new education law, which the government says will strengthen Italy's crumbling university system but which critics say will merely cut funding, was due for final approval in the Senate. Photo: Reuters

Students clash with police during a protest against the government-proposed education reforms which are being discussed at the Italian senate in Palermo, Italy. Thousands of students across Italy are demonstrated as the senate was expected to vote the cuts and reforms proposed by the Education minister Mariastella Gelmini. Photo: AP

Students march during a demonstration in Rome. Thousands of students gathered to protest a new university law as police blocked off large parts of the city centre to prevent a repeat of the violent clash at a similar march week ago. The new education law, which the government says will strengthen Italy's crumbling university system but which critics say will merely cut funding, was due for final approval in the Senate. Photo: Reuters

Students clash with police during a protest against the government-proposed education reforms which are being discussed at the Italian senate, in Milan. Thousands of students demonstrated as the senate was expected to vote the cuts and reforms proposed by the Education minister Mariastella Gelmini. Photo: AP

Students burn trash during a protest against the government-proposed education reforms which are being discussed at the Italian senate in Palermo, Italy. Thousands of students across Italy are demonstrating Wednesday as the senate is expected to vote the cuts and reforms proposed by the Education minister Mariastella Gelmini. Photo: AP

Students protest against the government-proposed education reforms which are being discussed at the Italian senate in Rome. Thousands of students across Italy are demonstrating as the senate is expected to vote the cuts and reforms proposed by the Education minister Mariastella Gelmini. The banner reads: "La Repubblica promuove lo sviluppo della cultura e della ricerca. Si, e' la Costituzione" (The Repubblic promotes the development of culture and research. Yes, it's the Constitution). Photo: AP

A student shows a hand painted in white during a demonstration in Rome. Thousands of students gathered to protest a new university law as police blocked off large parts of the city centre to prevent a repeat of the violent clash at a similar march week ago. The new education law, which the government says will strengthen Italy's crumbling university system but which critics say will merely cut funding, was due for final approval in the Senate. Photo: Reuters

Students clash with police during a protest against the government-proposed education reforms which are being discussed at the Italian senate in Milan. The new education law, which the government says will strengthen Italy's crumbling university system but which critics say will merely cut funding, was due for final approval in the Senate. Photo: AP

Students protest against the government-proposed education reforms which are being discussed in the Italian senate in Rome. Thousands of students across Italy demonstrated as the senate is expected to vote the cuts and reforms proposed by the Education minister Mariastella Gelmini. Photo: AP

Students protest against the government-proposed education reforms which are being discussed at the Italian senate, in Rome. Thousands of students across Italy are demonstrating as the senate is expected to vote the cuts and reforms proposed by the Education minister Mariastella Gelmini. Banner reads: ''You are alone in the red zone, we are free in the city'' - the red zone refers to the area of parliament and senate, banned to the public. Photo: AP

Students march during a demonstration in Rome. Thousands of students gathered to protest a new university law as police blocked off large parts of the city centre to prevent a repeat of the violent clash at a similar march week ago. The new education law, which the government says will strengthen Italy's crumbling university system but which critics say will merely cut funding, was due for final approval in the Senate. Photo: AP

Students march during a demonstration in Rome. Thousands of students gathered to protest a new university law as police blocked off large parts of the city centre to prevent a repeat of the violent clash at a similar march week ago. The new education law, which the government says will strengthen Italy's crumbling university system but which critics say will merely cut funding, was due for final approval in the Senate. Photo: AP

Students clash with police during a protest against the government-proposed education reforms which are being discussed at the Italian senate in Palermo, Italy. Thousands of students across Italy are demonstrating as the senate is expected to vote the cuts and reforms proposed by the Education minister Mariastella Gelmini. Photo: AP