A fascist rally was held in Italy to mark the 79th anniversary of the death of the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.

Around 200 people marched into Mezzegra-Giulino, on Lake Como where Mussolini and his lover Carla Petacci were arrested.

Neo-fascists dressed in black marched to place 15 roses on the water, in memory of the ministers and officials of the Mussolini government who were executed there.

They were then seen raising their arms in the Roman salute and shouted a fascist song.

Mussolini and Petacci were executed following day in the nearby lakeside town of Mezzegra-Giulino, where commemorations were also held on Sunday.

A counter protest took place with people singing the famous Italian anti-fascist song "Bella Ciao" during the ceremony for Mussolini.

It comes as the hard-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on the same day she will be a candidate at June's European elections in a bid to boost support for her Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy) party, though she will not take up a seat if elected.

Meloni, whose party traces its roots to Benito Mussolini's Fascist group, called for Italy to leave the euro zone when in opposition and her 2022 election raised concerns in some European capitals.

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However, Meloni has followed a broadly pro-European, orthodox line in office, particularly on foreign policy matters such as Ukraine and the Middle East.

Her party is Italy's most popular with 27 per cent of support, according to recent polls, ahead of the opposition Democratic Party (PD) on around 20 per cent and the left-leaning 5-Star Movement on 16 per cent.

Shortly before Meloni's speech, the president of the Senate and Fratelli d'Italia member Ignazio La Russa spoke about a bust of Mussolini he has in his possession.

La Russa has been criticised over the years for never speaking out against fascism.

La Russa said: "I don't have to regret having kept a bust of Mussolini at home, it's an inheritance from my father. What should I have done?

"Throw away a gift from my father? I gave it to my sister. I also have Stalin, De Gasperi, a Roman emperor."