ROME (AP) - Hundreds of Italians angry over a police attempt to arrest two men for stealing a motorbike threw stones, bottles and food at police in Naples, injuring 12 officers, authorities said.

The fight broke out late Monday in a piazza when a crowd of some 200 people attacked the officers, who had detained two alleged motorbike thieves, authorities in the southern Italian city said.

As people hurled stones, bottles and food at the officers, the three women, who were in a building overlooking the piazza, began throwing anything they could from their kitchen, including onions, boxes of pasta and potatoes at the police.

The women were arrested on charges of causing injuries and damage, resisting public officials, and attempting to aid the thieves, police said. One of the 12 injured officers was hospitalized with head injuries.

The brawl was the latest in a string of attacks against authorities in the southern Italian city, and one of several in which local women have sided against the police.

The arrest of the son of an alleged crime boss near Naples in January also sparked protests by residents, mainly women, who hurled objects and insults at police.