Italy's 'Purple People' mount opposition against PM Berlusconi

Rome, Mar. 1 (ANI): Tens of thousands of protesters calling themselves the 'Il Popolo Viola,' or the 'Purple People' took to the streets of Rome at the weekend in opposition to Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi.

According to The Times, the group wore purple sweaters and scarves, Berlusconi masks or striped prison dress to protest against what they say is the undermining of Italian democracy by Berlusconi in his battle with the country's legal system.

They vowed to stage further demonstrations before key regional elections at the end of the month.

Berlusconi, 73, has repeatedly attacked magistrates and judges as "politically biased" and "subversive".

Last week he compared them to the Taleban.

He is trying to push through new laws to annul trials against him for corruption and restore his immunity from prosecution, overturned last October as unconstitutional.

The Purple People carried copies of the Italian Constitution and banners reading "Basta" (enough) and "The law is equal for all".

The "purple protests" began spontaneously last year, with demonstrators using Facebook, blogs and Twitter to organise "No Berlusconi Day" rallies calling for the Prime Minister's esignation. (ANI)