Rome, Feb 25 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Activists of Ukrainian women's rights group Femen stripped to the waist at a polling station in Milan where ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi arrived to vote in Italy's general election, state TV reported.

Three activists of the feminist group lunged at Berlusconi as he arrived at the polling station Sunday.

The women held a topless protest, wearing only jeans, under the slogan "Basta Berlusconi" (Enough with Berlusconi), Rai News24 reported.

Two Ukrainian and one French woman participated in the protest, Agi news agency reported.

The activists were quickly arrested by police, who struggled to put their jackets and handcuffs on the women.

Italy's parliamentary elections, which are seen as crucial for the country's effort to address its economic problems, kicked off Sunday. Recent estimates gave a lead to Pier Luigi Bersani's centre-left alliance, thought to be a few points ahead of the centre-right bloc led by three-time premier Berlusconi.

Ukraine's radical feminist movement Femen was established in 2008 and devoted mainly to protests on women's issues.

Later, the group made headlines for pro-democracy and anti-corruption protests in Russia, Ukraine and London.