'Da Vinci Code' novel publicly burned on Italian piazza

CECCANO, Italy (AFP) - A handful of conservative Italian local councillors and activists were booed as they burned a copy of Dan Brown's novel "The Da Vinci Code," which they called "blasphemous." The book-burning ceremony took place on the main square of the village of Ceccano, 70 kilometres (43 miles) southeast of Rome. It was organized by two municipal councillors representing conservative parties -- one from the Christian Democrats, the other from the National Alliance. Ron Howard's Hollywood film of "The Da Vinci Code" opened on Friday in Italy. [More]