Hundreds of protesters have marched through the streets of Bergamo in northern Italy. They were protesting against Prime Minister Mario Monti's government and its austerity measures.

The people of Bergamo are fed up with their prime minister and his austerity measures.

The banner "Enough with Monti, enough with taxes" was in response to a speech by the prime minister at the city's tax police.

Italy's public finances are strained and public debt is equivalent to about 120 percent of gross domestic product.

Monti's technocrat government has imposed some 30 billion US dollars' worth of tax hikes.

Equitalia, the agency which collects taxes and fines, has been targeted by a string of attacks and threats by desperate small businessmen as well as anarchist groups.

The acts of violence have been generally condemned. But many commentators have expressed sympathy for the struggling tax payers and slammed authorities for a heavy-handed approach.

The government has faced particularly strong resistance in the prosperous regions of the north. Tax increases are seen as props for the poor and corruption-riddled southern regions.

Monti says "separatism" is not the answer, but acknowledges citizens from the north have a right to be especially concerned about tax evasion.

The prime minister's personal approval ratings have dropped sharply. Local election results this month showed a surge in support for protest parties opposed to his government.