<br /> <p>Riot police scuffled with protesters opposed to the construction of a natural gas pipeline in Melendugno, southeast Italy, on Tuesday, March 29.</p><p>Other clashes</a> happened the day before, and the protesters remained on site overnight</a>.</p><p>Tensions were high outside the construction site of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline, in San Foca, a coastal town of Melendugno, as workers began to remove dozens of olive trees in preparation to build the pipeline, which would deliver natural gas from Azerbaijan to Italy in 2020.</p><p>Several regional politicians, including mayors and city council members, also took part in the protest.</p><p>Puglia Governor Michele Emiliano</a> said the region would appeal the Environment Ministry’s decision to approve the project, saying “the government is using the police to solve a political issue.”</p><br />
