Man scales holy St Peter's for protest

One man takes a precarious position against the Italian government.

Marcello Di Finizio balances on the dome of St. Peter's Basilica dome for the second day to protest Italy's collapsing economy.

Giving a phone interview from his perch, he says he can no longer keep his beach resort business open with the additional taxes the government has levied.

(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) TELEPHONE INTERVIEW WITH MAN ON CUPOLA MARCELLO DI FINIZIO OVER VIDEO OF HIM ON DOME, SAYING:

"Today, it wasn't the crisis that ruined us it was the Italian state that failed to protect Italian companies," he says.

Italy is stuck in its longest recession in decades, with jobless rates close to record highs.

Support for a month-old coalition government has already fallen to 34 percent from 43 percent since the body was cobbled together to bring an end to political stalemate.

Others in Vatican City railed against the government from the ground.

(SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ROME RES