Student protesters marched in Milan on Thursday, a day before the 2015 Universal Exposition opens there.<br /><br /> Critics denounce corruption scandals surrounding the showpiece event as well as what they see as a waste of public money and the exploitation of volunteer labour.<br /><br /> And this is just the beginning. Thousands more protesters are set to <br />demonstrate on May Day itself to mark the opening <br /><br /> Security is tight amid fears things could turn ugly.<br /><br /> In raids aimed at rooting out potential troublemakers, several people have been detained, including French and German citizens. <br /><br /> Items like pickaxes, gas masks and baseball bats have reportedly been seized.<br /><br /> The government is counting on the Milan Expo to reinforce fragile signs of recovery in Italy.<br /><br /> Prime Minister Matteo Renzi wants it to help his drive to put a more modern face on the country after the years of recession.<br /><br /> Officials expect some 20 million people to visit the six month-long exhibition of products and technologies from ar
