ROME, Italy

Up to two million people have descended onto the streets of Rome for a demonstration with a double message.

Saying "no" to terrorism and "no" to the social policies of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, activists travelled from all corners of the country in thousands of buses and on 60 specially chartered trains for the rally, organised by Italy's biggest trade union.

The event was originally set to protest solely at the government's controversial employment reforms, which will make it easier to hire and fire certain categories of workers.

But following this week's murder of government employment advisor, Marco Biagi, claimed by an offshoot of the notorious Red Brigades guerrilla group, the rally's remit was extended.

The murdered man had helped to write the unpopular labour reforms that brought the demonstrators out onto the streets.

Nonetheless, the marchers have been determined to show that, though they do not agree with the policy or the authorities, violence is not the answer.