THOUSANDS of people have protested in Rome against austerity policies and high unemployment, urging new Prime Minister Enrico Letta to focus on creating jobs to help pull the country out of recession.

After less than a month in power, Letta is trying to hold together an uneasy coalition between his centre-left Democratic party and the centre-right People of Freedom, led by former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. Confidence in the government is already falling, with one poll on Friday showing its approval rating had dropped from 43% to 34% within weeks.

■ITALY