The Guardian

"Anti-everything" Tuscans boo out Berlusconi ... Silvio Berlusconi has been forced to abandon plans to add a 10th-century Tuscan castle to his private collection of villas after residents made it clear that he is not welcome.
The Italian prime minister was abused by the people of the traditionally leftwing hilltop town of Montalcino, near Siena, on a recent visit, the environment under-secretary, Roberto Tortoli, said. "As far as I know, he has had second thoughts ... because of the type of welcome he received in the region," he told journalists in Florence. "This is not a normal country," he said. "Tuscany is like a black hole in western democracy - anti-government, anti-globalisation, anti-America, anti-everything". Last month it was reported that Mr Berlusconi, who owns villas in Sardinia and Portofino, was planning to buy Velona Castle as a "meeting place". Tuscany, known for its renaissance architecture, hill-top towns and some of Italy's best food and wine, is one of the country's wealthiest re gions and traditionally votes leftwing. It has been a focal point for recent protests against globalisation and war. Protesters have chained themselves to railway lines to stop trains carrying military equipment destined for the Gulf to a US base near Pisa, and a ski resort was attacked by environmental activists. On Sunday two suspected members of the the Red Brigades terror group were caught on a train near Arezzo. The police suspect that the pair, one of whom was killed, may have been planning to assassinate a government figure. The mayor of Montalcino, Massimo Ferretti, confirmed that there had been an "incident" when Mr Berlusconi visited but blamed tourists.