Italian riot police and demonstrators clash

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)

Demonstrators protesting against a planned high-speed rail link between France and northern Italy scuffled with police Wednesday near the French embassy in Rome.

A protester in a wheelchair appeared to diffuse scuffles momentarily.

Supporters of anti high-speed rail movement "No-Tav", many wearing motorbike helmets, faced-off against riot police in one of Rome's narrow central streets close to the French embassy.

Over the past years demonstrators have clashed with police on various occasions over the train line, meant to run from France, through Italy, to eastern Europe.

The demonstrators say two motorways and a railway line already run through the Susa valley in the far north of Italy and the additional high-speed railway would damage the environment.

France and Italy signed a deal in 2001 to build the high-speed TAV line and open a more modern, faster transport link between the two countries.