UDINE, Italy :Pro-Palestinian demonstrators took to the streets on Tuesday in the northern Italian city of Udine before Italy's World Cup soccer qualifier against Israel, amid tight security measures against possible infiltration by violent groups.

Italy are due to face Israel at 20:45 (1845 GMT) at the Friuli Stadium in the city's northwestern outskirts, while the demonstration, which up to 10,000 people are expected to take part in, will wind its way through the city centre.

March organisers Committee for Palestine-Udine called on FIFA, soccer's global governing body, to ban Israel from all competitions, saying the team supported "occupation policies" in the Palestinian territories.

PROTEST TO GO AHEAD DESPITE CEASEFIRE DEAL

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