Milan - Some 150 refugees from Africa demanding housing and jobs have interrupted the Milan Furniture and Design Fair with sitdown protests and demonstrations, Italian media reported Thursday.

The action came after police evicted around 300 refugees from a block of flats they had occupied.

Some of the mainly political refugees from war zones such as Eritrea and Somalia found accommodation in church institutions. Around 150 continued their protest.

Residents complained the protests prevented visitors from getting to the fair as well as shops in the city centre on Wednesday. (dpa)