The impending arrival by sea of Syrian chemical weapons has led to widespread protests in southern Italy.

The toxic cargo is due to be transfered between a Danish vessel and an America ship and then destroyed at sea in international waters.

But they have to use a port at Gioia Tauro valley in Calabria and people there are angry because they say secrecy surrounds the whole operation and they have been given no guarantees from the government.

“They are telling us that the material carried is not dangerous, but in fact nobody knows what is inside those containers,” said one demonstrator.

With the shipment expected to arrive within ten days, the mayor of the local region has threatened to close the port and called for a massive protest on February 1.