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ROME - Tens of thousands of Italian conservatives protested in the ancient Roman Forum against the centre-left Government of Romano Prodi, among them a few hundred black-shirted right-wingers giving the Nazi salute.
Gianfranco Fini, leader of the National Alliance, told the rally he believed the days of Prime Minister Prodi's 17-month-old Government were numbered.
"I don't think it will be long now," said Fini.
The AN protest came a day before core supporters of Prodi's coalition vote for a leader for the new Democratic Party, result of a merger of two parties which Prodi hopes will give his shaky Government some much-needed stability.
- Reuters
