Naples, city of rubbish

The Italian army has begun bulldozing the 100,000 tonnes of rubbish that has piled up in the streets of the southern city of Naples. The government is to hold an emergency meeting to find a solution to the rubbish crisis. Naples refuse collectors stopped collecting rubbish two weeks ago.

With nowhere to put it local people are forced to burn it. The fire brigade has been struggling to put out the fires. Protesters have clashed with police near an overflowing landfill site.

Police tried to reopen the site, but residents of Pianura, a western suburb, said it was a health risk and blocked the roads. They threw stones at police, who responded with batons. At least three people were taken to hospital.

Prime Minister Romano Prodi has returned from his holidays to a national embarrassment. The EU is warning there will be tough penalties unless Italy resolves the crisis this week.

Schools which have been closed were reopened on the orders of the government, though only a handful of students have left their homes.

Finding a solution to this problem means tackling the mob.

The Camorra, the Neapolitan version of the Mafia, has turned this into a hugely profitable business.