About 300,00 people rallied in Rome Saturday to protest against legislation they believe could help Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi fight corruption charges.

Demonstrators said they wanted to denounce Berlusconi's abuse of political power for personal interest.

The prime minister is trying to pass a bill that would allow defendants to have their trials annulled or moved to another court if they suspect judges are biased.

Protest sign demanding a 'legitimate defence'

Berlusconi himself is facing trial for allegedly bribing judges, and many fear the new law could help him evade justice.

Film director Nanni Moretti told the crowd in San Giovanni public square that the huge turnout showed it was possible to bring together people of different political stripes over important issues of democracy.

Also at the rally was Antonio di Pietro, the Italian judge who crusaded against corruption in the country's Clean Hands scandals of the early 1990s.

"I personally brought about the Clean Hands movement to free this country from widespread corruption, so I couldn't not be here today," he said.

The bill was approved by the Italian Senate in July. It's expected to pass later this month in the lower house of parliament, where Berlusconi's party has a strong majority.