Olympic Threat

Hundreds of paramilitary police have broken up a camp protesting against a high-speed railway through the Italian Alps.

The carabinieri dragged demonstrators from their tents in the village of Venaus and 20 people, including five police officers, were taken to hospital after the clashes.

Locals are also opposed to the planned £10BN rail link between Lyons and Turin. They rushed to the punch up, summoned by church bells and text messages from an anti-train website.

Several factories closed in sympathy strikes yesterday in the Susa Valley at the centre of the protest and in Turin, 40 miles away, while demonstrators blocked motorways and railway lines.

Protesters have pledged to disrupt the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin.

Some of February's Olympic skiing events are due to be held in the valley where the demonstrations are taking place.

The majority of the valley's 60,000 residents, including mayors and priests, are against the tunnel.