1.
LV Riot police running forward (2 shots)
0.10

2.
GV Police at road junction
0.11

3.
SV Police through smoke
0.19

4.
SV & GV Riot police moving forward (3 shots)
0.37

5.
GV Police move back
0.43

6.
GV Fire in road & police
0.51

7.
SV & GV Police move back (2 shots)
1.04

8.
SV Police gathered at road junction
1.10



Initials SGM/2259 SGM/2330


TELERECORDING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Police battled rioters using hit and run tactics in the strife-torn southern Italian city of Reggio Calabria on Tuesday (16 February) after citizens heard that the rival city of Catanzaro had been named capital of the new Calabria region. Reggio, a city of 160,000, had waged a violent seven-month campaign to win the nomination as capital. The riots and strikes during the period have claimed the lives of two policemen and two civilians and hundreds have been injured.

VISNEWS cameraman Enzo di Giambattista filmed this coverage shortly after the announcement about Catanzaro.

SYNOPSIS: Police moved forward against bands of rioters in the southern Italian city of Reggio Calabria on Tuesday as the city's seven-month campaign to become regional capital ended in failure.

The city's bitter rival of Catanzaro was named early Tuesday as capital of the new Calabria region after an all night meeting of the Calabria regional council.

Although it was decided as compensation that Reggio was to be seat of the regional assembly, that wasn't enough for some of the city's 160,000 who went into mourning over the outcome of the seven-month campaign. Bands of angry youths built barricades and hurled petrol bombs in hit-and-run raids against police.

Police retaliated with tear gas and baton charges.

During the seven-month campaign of riots and strikes, two policemen and two rioters have lost their lives. Hundreds have been injured as well.

It's believed that it will be some time before Reggio's new status is fully accepted in the city.