Police escort 19 migrants to shelter amid angry protests

(ANSA) - Rome, July 17 - A bus carrying 19 refugees and escorted by police pushed past protesters to arrive at the doors of a migrant reception centre in Rome's Casale San Nicola suburb Friday.
    The refugees were spotted inside the bus, curtains drawn against water bottles and other objects thrown by anti-immigrant protesters who jostled with police, some in riot gear.
    Police at one point charged the protesters after coming under a barrage of objects including sun umbrellas and chairs.
    Protesters, who included members of the far-right Casapound political group, also burned rubbish containers and bales of hay. A group of demonstrators tried to block a street into the suburb, some by sitting across the roadway, but Rome Prefect Franco Gabrielli said that would be cleared.
    "We won't take any steps back," he said.
    Some protesters shouted at the migrants that "you have to get out here".
    Protests also broke out in northern Italy, where some governors have been inciting mayors to fight the arrivals of migrants into the region.
    On Friday, Veneto Governor Luca Zaia complained about the "Africanization" of his region through the admission refugees into his area, best known for the international tourist destination Venice.
    Anti-migrant protests have intensified, especially at the political level, as political parties such as the Northern League have gained support with their anti-immigrant rhetoric.
    Italy has seen a wave of migrants from the across the Mediterranean as thousands flee war and violence in Africa and Middle East.
    New figures suggested about 170,000 migrants arrived in Italy by sea in the first half of this year alone.