The demonstration was called by Italy's three biggest trade unions, which said more than 50,000 people marched to Scanzano Jonico, the proposed site for the dump, while police estimated the turnout at 30,000.

The unions said in a statement that the demonstration was a "unequival response" against the project from a region that has "made environmental concerns a determining factor in development."

Leaders of local parties joined the demonstration, saying the region depended on agriculture and tourism and did not need a nuclear test dump.

Protests have taken place all week, affecting road and rail transport throughout southern Italy.

The government decreed November 13 that the national nuclear repository would be constructed at Scanzano Jonico. It partly retreated Thursday, saying it was "ready to modify" the decision.

But the demonstrators want the decree annulled.

"It's clear to me that the whole of Basilicata is here, it has made its stand and it wants the decree to be taken back," said Filippo Bubbico, president of the region, who headed the demonstration.

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