Road traffic was banned in Italy's economic capital Milan Sunday because of the high level of pollution recorded in the town, officials said.
All motor vehicles, including those with catalytic converters, were "grounded" from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm (0700 GMT to 1900 GMT) in Milan and the 35 surrounding districts.
Only bicycles, electric cars, motorbikes with catalytic converters and emergency vehicles like fire engines and ambulances, were allowed on the roads.
Anyone breaking the ban was liable to a 121,000 lire (63 euros, 52 dollars) fine.
The ban followed seven days of abnormally high pollution levels, which a succession of epidemiological have linked to a rise in the rate of deaths from heart failure.
Ecological groups have accused local authorities of managing the emergency instead of tackling it.
They said they would gather signatures Sunday to call for a traffic ban in central Milan throughout the week -- ROME (AFP)
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