Protester climbs Vatican dome

"Help!" reads a banner unveiled by a man perched on the dome of St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.

But he doesn't need assistance getting down.

He climbed the 137 metre high dome to protest against the policies of Prime Minister Mario Monti and the European Union.

The rest of the sign reads "Enough Monti! Enough Europe! Enough Multinationals".

Onlookers said acts like these showed Italy was going through difficult times.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) ROME RESIDENT MASSIMO CERRI:

"I don't think this is a gesture that is normal, it is a gesture born out of desperation. I hope desperation doesn't begin to become the norm for people."

The demonstrator has been identified as Marcello Di Finizio - a beach bar owner who rents out parasols and lounge chairs to sunbathers.

He is said to be angry at a EU directive and Italian government plan to see licenses to operate on patches of seafront auctioned off from 2016 - a move likely to favour multinational companies.

A friend of Di Finizio says he will not come down until a delegation sits down with ministers to improve the government's plan.