An anti-racism protest staged by immigrants in Calabria in southern Italy ended in rioting in the worst racial unrest witnessed by the country in years.

The immigrants took to the streets after a group of African farm workers were shot at with an air gun by a group of local white youths. The protesters set fire to cars and rubbish bins. At least one of the cars had people in it at the time. Several people were injured and clashes with the police ensued.

Most of the immigrants in Calabria are from Africa. They work as day labourers picking fruit and vegetables and live in primitive conditions in abandoned factories without electricity or running water. Human-rights organisations say that the immigrants are exploited by organised criminals.

 Photo: African migrants in Italy (Flickr/ John Rohan)