The execution-style killings of six Italians in Germany marks an unprecedented escalation of the operations of southern Italy’s ’ndrangheta crime syndicate, exporting a vendetta abroad for the first time, Italian officials said today.

Six Italian men were shot dead in a western German city today in an execution-style killing that Italy's interior minister said appeared to be part of a feud between two Italian organised crime clans.

Italy’s players and club officials have reacted with dismay to the decision to declare all bar six venues closed to supporters on security grounds.

Italian interior minister Giuliano Amato vowed today to resist what he said was pressure from football clubs and to ensure safety in and outside stadiums, days after a police officer died in rioting at a top match in Sicily.

Thousands of mourners flocked to a cathedral in the Sicilian city of Catania today for the funeral of a policeman whose death in a football riot has shocked Italy and prompted calls for new measures to curb stadium violence.

The economic value of football in Italy industry will be in the minds of politicians and sports administrators when they meet on Monday to discuss long-term measures to curb fan violence at Italian soccer games.

A TURKISH army deserter who hijacked a flight to Italy has told prosecutors he was seeking asylum because he fears persecution in his Muslim homeland after his conversion to Christianity and wanted Pope Benedict XVI’s protection.

Italian officials today said they intend to prosecute a Turkish man for hijacking a plane, despite his appeal for political asylum on the grounds that he is being persecuted as a Christian in Muslim Turkey.

The Turk who hijacked a Turkish Airlines plane to Italy feared for his safety because he converted to Christianity and wanted to deliver a message for Pope Benedict XVI but had no physical letter, Italy’s interior minister told politicians in Rome today.

THE leaders of Italy, France and Spain have sent a letter to the EU, urging the bloc to approve measures to help them cope with the flood of illegal migrants from Africa.

The leaders of Italy, France and Spain sent a letter to the EU yesterday, urging the bloc to approve measures to help them cope with the flood of illegal migrants from Africa.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi appears headed for victory in a confrontation with his EU partners over his appointment to a key panel of a man who once called Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini ‘‘the greatest statesman’’ of the 20th century.

Italy's right-wing opposition leader says he's the best politician in the world.