Berlusconi supporters attend rally
Supporters of Silvio Berlusconi's party rally in Rome (AP)
Thousands of people have turned out for a rally supporting Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi's party before regional elections later this month.
The rally was initially called to support Berlusconi's People of Freedom party after its candidates were excluded from the Rome provincial vote because they missed a filing deadline.
But the rally took on greater importance after Berlusconi was accused in a new investigation involving state-run RAI television.
Prosecutors have placed Berlusconi under investigation for having allegedly tried to pressure RAI and the government's communications watchdog to remove purportedly hostile talk shows from the air.
Berlusconi denies wrongdoing.
The investigation has dominated Italian headlines as the March 28-29 vote approaches.
