ROME (AP) - Italian smokers were pushed out into the cold - some of them protesting - as a law banning smoking in bars, restaurants, offices and other public spaces came into force yesterday.

Opponents of the ban greeted its arrival at midnight Sunday with smoke-fuelled parties, while supporters burned small piles of cigarettes in the street and inspected bars to make sure the new rules were being obeyed.

The new law bans smoking in indoor spaces unless they have a separate smoking area with continuous floor-to-ceiling walls and a ventilation system. It is one of the most severe anti-smoking measures in Europe.

About 26 per cent of Italians are smokers, according to Health Ministry figures.

Smokers ignoring the ban face fines of up to euro275 (US$363), while owners of premises that close an eye to smoking risk penalties as high as euro2,200 (US$2,904).

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