Roman statues make a stand against CO2 emissions

Activists of Italian Legambiente association dressed as penguins stage a demonstration against global warming in front of Italy's Parliament in Rome June 5, 2008.

ROME (Reuters) - The marble features of some of Rome's most famous statues were obscured by gas masks on Thursday as part of a protest against traffic pollution organized by an environmental pressure group.

Under the slogan "The statues say NO to pollution from CO2 emissions!," the group "Terra!" are lobbying for the European Union to reduce the ceiling for cars' carbon dioxide emissions.

The masks and "CO2" placards appeared overnight on statues of saints, poets, angels and emperors in piazzas and on bridges throughout the capital, before being removed by the authorities.

Terra! (www.e-terra.it) says the EU has failed to make good on pledges to lower the CO2 emissions limits of new cars and protests against the rising sales of high-emission Sports Utility Vehicles.

Rome has been the scene of several high-impact visual protests by activists in recent months, including pouring red paint into the Trevi Fountain, and hurling thousands of colored balls down the Spanish Steps.

(Reporting by Olivia Scarlett; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)