In Italy, angry protesters threw rocks and bottles and police lobbed tear gas canisters on Tuesday in Rome's streets after Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi narrowly survived a confidence votes. A crowd of several hundred protesters smashed motorcycles and police vehicles as they erupted in violence and clashed with authorities following the votes. Small fires were burning in various spots, and loud explosions could be heard from firecrackers or flash-bang devices. The demonstrations follow weeks of bitter protests against the government, which has announced austerity measures, including cuts in education spending. Berlusconi retained his position after the nation's upper and lower houses of parliament voted in his favor. The vote in the upper house, was 162-135 with 11 abstentions. The lower house, turned in a much narrower margin – 314-311, with two abstentions. The vote was the latest in a series on the prime minister's leadership.