BOLZANO, ITALY.- Police in northern Italy have impounded a toilet that flushes to the sound of the Italian national anthem. The work was created by two artists and was on display at the Bolzano Museum of Modern Art. According to prosecutors, the Fratelli d'Italia anthem is a national emblem which should be protected and should never be open to ridicule.

The defese argues that the national anthem is not a national symbol. The former government headed by Silvio Berlusconi issued a decree that defined the national anthem as an emblem and property of the state. A judgement will be made later this week.