TURIN, Feb. 11 (Xinhuanet) -- Italy's guard is up and there is no sign of any threat to the Turin Winter Olympics from international terrorism, Italian News Agency ANSA said on Saturday.

    "There are no specific threats," Italian Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu said, going on to confirm that a massive security and surveillance operation was under way at and around the Olympic sites.

    The minister noted however that "anarchist" elements, mostly from inside Italy, were aiming to stage high-profile protests during the Games.

    Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi said that throughout the 16 days of the Olympics the Italian government would be "vigilant" so that nothing could "ruin the atmosphere" of the event.

    Security forces were put on maximum alert for the Games' opening ceremony on Friday night - attended by, among others, the U.S. First Lady Laura Bush and the British premier's wife Cherie Blair.

    Italian police have said checks on every person attending the Games will be "meticulous."

    A security force of 15,000, including Italian army units, has been mobilized to protect the athletes and spectators from now till the end of the Games on February 26.

    A no-fly zone has been imposed over the city of Turin and the surrounding area for the Games and NATO is providing two surveillance planes to patrol northern Italy. Enditem