Hundreds protest pension reforms in Italy

Hundreds of people rallied in Rome on Thursday to protest against an increase in the minimum pension age which unions say could leave tens of thousands of people who took early retirement stranded. The protest in front of the ancient Pantheon in the city centre was called by Italy's three main trade unions -- CGIL, CISL and UIL, which say that 350,000 people will be affected by Prime Minister Mario Monti's pension reforms. The government says the number is closer to 65,000 and says funds have been set aside to ensure that these people will not be left without a state pension. "The government has burnt the generation born between 1952 and 1954," one of the protesters, Sandro Faraoni, a former post office employee, told AFP. "Luckily my partner has a house because I no longer have a home. If she kicks me out, I'll be homeless," he added with a smile. Laura Piacenti said she had taken early retirement to give young people a chance but had been forced to cut costs at home to help her son. "We are the victims of an arrogant government," she said.