Italian minister warns of looming 'great threats'

Italy’s Interior Minister warned today of looming “grave threats” in demonstrations during the visit to Rome of President George Bush next week.

Giuseppe Pisanu did not say the president was threatened and he was not referring to a terrorist threat, an Interior Ministry official said.

Bush will be in Italy on June 4 and 5. Italy marks Republic Day on June 2.

Both occasions are expected to draw thousands of demonstrators protesting at both the war in Iraq and the occupation, as well as the Italian government’s staunch support for the US administration.

“Grave threats are looming, which concern us, but don’t frighten us," Pisanu said during a speech today.