7 WWII-era bombs found in Italy

VICENZA, Italy, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- Seven World War II-era bombs were found Thursday during construction work at an airfield to be used by U.S. military forces in Vicenza, Italy.

It marks the second time unexploded ordnance has been discovered buried at Dal Molin airfield since work started last fall on construction of barracks and offices for the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, Stars and Stripes reported. A 250-pound bomb was unearthed last November.

The Southern European Task Force (Airborne) said the bombs varied in size and type, the military newspaper reported. The office of Paolo Costa, the Italian government's commissioner overseeing the proposed U.S. use of the site, said five of the bombs were of Italian origin and two were U.S. made.

Italian military authorities were called in to dispose of the bombs.

The U.S. military expects to start deploying troops at the post in 2010 or 2011. While the Italian government supports the U.S. presence, the project has drawn large protests in the city, Stars and Stripes reported.