The Italian government minister who had called Germans “hyper-nationalist” arrogant blondes has resigned at the request of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

GERMAN leader Gerhard Schroeder has cancelled his Italian summer holiday after a Rome minister labelled German tourists “hyper-nationalistic blondes”.

Italy was tonight braced for a German summer boycott after Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder cancelled his holiday in pique over an attack on his countrymen abroad.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder today cancelled his summer holiday in Italy, a government spokesman said.

THE Italian government backed away from another confrontation with Berlin yesterday in fear that German tourists would plonk their towels on another nation’s beaches.

The Italian government backed away from another confrontation with Berlin today in fear that German tourists would head for another nation’s beaches.

Italy tried to make amends today after a government official branded Germans as “stereotyped blondes with a hyper-nationalist pride”.

ITALIAN Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi insisted yesterday he had never apologised to Germany for his Nazi jibe.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, who is fervently opposed to war with Iraq, will fly to London next week for talks with Tony Blair.

Germany and France renewed calls today to weapons inspectors more time in Iraq, hours before both countries’ leaders were to discuss their next diplomatic moves to avert war.

FRANCE and Germany stood firm over their opposition to war with Iraq last night saying Washington had yet to prove to the UN that Iraq possessed banned weapons of mass destruction.