Police said 9 people were arrested and 371 more briefly detained — including 110 minors — and taken to police stations in eight cities as clashes broke out at some protests. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's hard-right government had approved tough security measures this week, with police carrying out dozens of searches and arrests in advance of the rallies. In Milan, several thousand people marched through the centre, bringing traffic to a standstill. "Marching is a right. We need to make our voices heard," protester Alessio Scimone, 24, told AFP. A similar number rallied in Rome, where some protesters briefly broke into the Colosseum. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said police "managed to isolate and contain the violent fringes, with balance and professionalism," adding: "In Italy there can be no room for those who delude themselves that they can act with impunity." In Milan, some stores closed early and others boarded windows after looting last weekend, while others stayed open after Mayor Giuseppe Sala urged not to "panic." "We want to give the message that we are not scared by these kids," said Alessandro Buhne, 30, who works at a menswear shop. After last weekend's clashes in Milan, the government deployed 500 soldiers to the city and approved a decree easing detention rules for minors and imposing fines on their parents for damage done during demonstrations. Police also arrested a 30-year-old man suspected of being behind the "October 17 Movement," which had called for the protests. Student groups have criticized the government's public order response and urged it to address demands such as cutting military spending in favor of education. The demonstrations are part of wider protests by students, truck drivers and farmers over cost-of-living issues like housing and fuel prices. The government approved financial measures to help businesses hit by fuel price spikes after the Middle East war. Truck blockades that had paralyzed southern Italy, causing fuel and food shortages, have now been lifted. (Bssnews)