Italy's two-day general election begun this morning. Polling stations opened at 0700 GMT, with a second day of voting from 0600-1400 tomorrow. Exit polls are expected to come out shortly after voting ends at 3 p.m. on Monday and full official results are expected by early Tuesday.
This is the first time Italians vote during the winter season and heavy snow in the north could discourage some of the 47 million eligible voters. Authorities said they were prepared for the weather and in some cities roads were cleared of snow before voting started.
In Milan, regardeles of the cold weather. three bare-breasted women, protested against Berlusconi when he arrived at a polling station in Milan to vote in Italy's general election.
The three half-naked women, who had the slogan "Basta Berlusconi" ("Enough With Berlusconi") written on their naked backs, broke through a crowd of journalists and lunged at Silvio Berlusconi. The topless trio jumped over some tables toward the former leader, but they failed to reach him. They were quickly detained by police and dragged away screaming.
Italian news reports said the three were members of the Femen protest group.
Do not miss our guide to the general election.
