Italian police use water cannon to break up health pass protest at port

Port workers demonstrate outside the entrance of the major port of Trieste, as Italian riot police try to disperse the protest which has taken place for several days against the implementation of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) health pass, the Green Pass, in the workplace, in Trieste, Italy, October 18, 2021. REUTERS/Borut Zivulovic

TRIESTE, Italy (Reuters) - Italian police used water cannon and tear gas on Monday to clear a sit-in at the port of Trieste, where opponents of the government's mandatory COVID-19 health pass have tried to block access.

The northeastern port has been the focal point of protest in Italy over the introduction of new rules last Friday that require all workers either to show proof of vaccination, a negative coronavirus test or recent recovery from infection.