27 Oct 2011

Blows exchanged in parliament

6:00 pm on 27 October 2011

Politicians in Italy exchanged blows in parliament on Wednesday as tensions over a tough economic reform programme came to a head.

At least two deputies from the Northern League, a member of the ruling coalition, fought with members of the opposition FLI party.

Two deputies grabbed each other by the throat as other parliamentarians rushed to separate them.

Parliament was suspended for several minutes after the fight.