Hundreds of thousands of people have marched through central Rome for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.

People with banners and flags, chanting "Free Palestine" and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organisers said attracted more than one million people, while police put the figure at around 250,000.

"I'm here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilise individually," said Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome. "If we don't all mobilise, then nothing will change."

The protest, in bright sunshine, was peaceful, with students, children, and the elderly attending. It also featured at

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