VATICAN CITY — An Italian man has eluded Vatican security and scaled the 130-meter-high (42-feet-high) dome of St. Peter's Basilica to protest Italian government and European Union policies.

Officials said Wednesday that the man, who identified himself as the owner of a beach resort, refused appeals from government ministers offering to meet with him if he would come down.

He put up a banner saying "Help! Enough Monti!" referring to Italian Premier Mario Monti, who has been implementing tough austerity measures and economic reforms to bring down Italy's debt and deficit and spur growth.