Tractors drive through central Rome

(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 9 - Four tractors driven by farmers representing Agricultural Redemption, one of the several groups involved in the peaceful tractor protests gripping Italy against European and national agricultural policies and general hardship in the sector, drove past the Colosseum on Friday morning as part of a small demonstration in the city.
    The tractors, sounding their horns and escorted by police vehicles, were greeted with applause, thumbs-up signs and kisses as they made their drive-past before heading for Circo Massimo.
    "For the first time tractors have entered the heart of the capital without flags behind them. It is a great result," said Agricultural Redemption leader Salvatore Fais.
    Of the increasingly evident divisions within the tractor protest movement, he said: "Each group has the same problems and each one wages its own battles".
    The group also said that the tractor procession on Rome's motorway ring road scheduled for Friday evening would start at 8pm.
    "We confirm that tonight at 8 p.m. we will leave from the rallying point on Via Nomentana and we will drive around the whole of the ring road and then return to the rallying point to await good news from Minister Lollobrigida for the meeting," said Roberto Rosati, another spokesperson for the group.
    Agricultural Redemption have asked for a meeting with Premier Giorgia Meloni and Farm Minister Francesco Lollobrigida and have given them until 12 am on Saturday to reply.
    It it gets a negative answer it has said it will "unleash" its tractors around the capital. (ANSA).