Italian coastguards were trying to rescue migrants lost at sea today after their boat capsized off the coast of Lampedusa, a tiny Italian island close to North Africa, officials said, but many were feared dead.

ITALY warned it was facing a refugee and humanitarian emergency, with some 15,000 Tunisians having arrived in recent weeks and fears that the start of US and European airstrikes on Libya could unleash even more migrants.

Italy has warned it faces a humanitarian crisis with some 1,600 refugees from Tunisia arriving in its waters over the past two weeks following unrest there.

A bomb was found at the Greek Embassy in Rome today, four days after similar mail bombs exploded at two other embassies injuring two people.

Mail bombs exploded in the hands of employees at the Swiss and Chilean embassies in Rome today, seriously injuring two people and triggering heightened security checks at diplomatic missions just as holiday deliveries deluge their mailrooms.

ITALIANS voiced shock yesterday after violent protests set off by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s narrow victory in a vote in parliament that leaves his government hanging by a thread.

AT least 90 people were injured when violent protests erupted in Rome after Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi won back-to-back confidence votes in parliament, narrowly surviving one of his toughest political challenges.

Police in Sicily have arrested one of Italy’s 30 most dangerous Mafia fugitives.

THOUSANDS of Italian police took part in a huge operation against a powerful crime syndicate yesterday, arresting 300 people including top bosses and seizing millions in property.

Thousands of Italian police took part in a huge operation against a powerful crime syndicate today, arresting 300 people including top bosses and seizing millions in property.

THE man who hurled a statuette at Silvio Berlusconi, leaving the Italian premier with a broken nose and two broken teeth, is not fit to standtrial, a judge has ruled.

The man who hurled a statuette at Silvio Berlusconi, leaving the Italian premier with a broken nose and two broken teeth, is not fit to stand trial, a judge ruled today.

Europe appeared divided today regarding the need for airport full-body scanners today with some countries dismissing the need for tougher security measures.

Police captured one of Sicily’s top Mafia fugitives yesterday, dealing a blow to the island’s Cosa Nostra crime syndicate.

An international terror cell was smashed with the arrest of 17 Algerians across Europe, police said today.

Italian police have captured a mobster at a farmhouse on the slopes of Mount Vesuvius after 15 years on the run, the country’s Foreign Minister said today.

BARCELONA’S Thierry Henry and Andres Iniesta continued their respective bids to be fit for the Champions League final as they returned to squad training yesterday, but not at the same intensity as their team-mates.

Authorities in Rome have enforced a blanket ban on the sale of alcohol in a bid to stave off the threat of trouble between Manchester United and Barcelona fans.

Aftershocks from the earthquake that killed at least 260 people in central Italy sent new fears through the camps that sheltered thousands of survivors today.

ITALY have indefinitely banned their own supporters from away games after trouble flared during the Azzurri’s goalless draw in Bulgaria on Saturday.

Giovanni Trapattoni believes the Italian Football Federation will never be able to prevent the country’s supporters from watching their national team away from home.

Italy have indefinitely banned their own supporters from away games after trouble flared during the Azzurri’s goalless draw in Bulgaria on Saturday.

ITALIAN police arrested scores of suspected mobsters yesterday, including three top fugitives believed linked to the gangland-style slaying of six African immigrants near Naples, authorities said.

Scores of suspected Mafia members were arrested in a series of raids by Italian police today including three top men linked to the murder of six immigrants earlier this month.

ITALY may demand all its citizens be fingerprinted, a move aimed at defusing widespread criticism of government plans to force Roma people to provide fingerprints as a way of tackling criminality.

Italy’s top opposition leader today denounced attacks on Gypsy camps, as Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s new government prepared a crackdown on immigration and the European Parliament agreed to a debate on how Gypsies are treated in Italy.

Italy’s Alitalia faced cancellations or delays for as many as 250 flights today as wildcat protests by the airline’s workers continued ahead of a key meeting between unions and government representatives.

Italy’s Alitalia faced cancellations or delays for as many as 250 flights today as wildcat protests by the airline’s workers continued ahead of a key meeting between unions and government representatives.

Alitalia expected cancellations or delays for as many as 250 flights today as workers continued wildcat protests, while the Italian labour minister warned that the government would not bail out the troubled airline.

THE dollar hit a fresh nine-month high point against the euro yesterday, strengthening the belief that the euro could be dropped by some countries.

Italy’s labour minister has called for a referendum to see whether Italians want to temporarily bring back the lira after widespread popular discontent over high prices that many blame on the introduction of the euro.

Opposition to his candidate for a key EC post left Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi with a tough decision today: Whether to stand by his choice or give in to protests over the conservative Catholic’s positions on gays and the family.