Italians have held a demonstration in the capital to express discontent with US President Barack Obama’s visit to their country

Italians have held a demonstration in the capital to express discontent with US President Barack Obama’s visit to their country.

The demonstrators gathered outside the US Embassy in Rome on Thursday, chanting slogans against the US president.

The protesters criticized Washington for its military policies abroad, accused Obama of being a warmonger, and called on him to stop dividing the world.

On Thursday, Obama met Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi to discuss a range of issues including the crisis in Ukraine.

Earlier in the day, Obama met with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano at the Quirinal Palace.

The US president is on a six-day tour to Europe, where he is seeking to consolidate a common position among allies on a response to the crisis in Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Obama called on Russia to de-escalate the crisis in Ukraine or face the consequences of more sanctions, claiming that the Western world is united against Moscow's actions in Crimea.