Tension flared in Italy on Saturday on the fringe of a largely-peaceful demonstration against a meeting of European far-right political groups. <br /><br /> Left-wing activists clashed with police amid ugly scenes on the streets of Genoa in the north. <br /><br /> They waved banners reading, “Genoa anti-fascist, free city, defend our country.” <br /><br /> Local media said around 1,000 protesters turned out.<br /><br /> The protesters were trying to stop a gathering organised by hardline Italian group Forza Nuova. <br /><br /> Despite the unrest, it went ahead as planned. Those attending included Udo Voigt, a European lawmaker from Germany’s far-right National Democratic Party, former leader of the British National Party Nick Griffin, and representatives of Romanian and French far-right movements.<br />
