Italy accused of Europe isolation

Berlusconi embraced Bossi at the weekend conference

ROME, Italy -- Italy's former foreign minister Renato Ruggiero has accused the government of moving to isolate the country from Europe.

Pro-European Ruggiero resigned early in January following a spat with eurosceptic ministers about Italy's membership of the European Union.

In his first interview since his resignation, Ruggiero told La Repubblica newspaper that his departure was prompted by clashes with Reforms Minister Umberto Bossi and other colleagues.

Bossi denounced the EU as Stalinist and fascist at the weekend.

Ruggiero said: "I think it's now clear to everyone the real reason for my resignation. If I hadn't done it then, I would have had to do it today because of Bossi's monstrosities.

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"If Bossi's ideas aren't clearly rejected then there's an enormous risk that our traditional pro-European credibility will carry less weight at such an important moment," he said.

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi faces dissent within his centre-right coalition government because of Bossi's comments.

Ministers from centrist parties were angry that Berlusconi failed to quieten Bossi. At a weekend congress of Bossi's Northern League party Berlusconi openly embraced his outspoken minister.

"There are limits beyond which we cannot go without giving the impression that we do not believe in Europe. That limit has been reached," European Affairs Minister Rocco Buttiglione told Il Messaggero newspaper on Tuesday.

The Northern League brought down Berlusconi's first government in 1994 after Bossi quit the coalition in a row over pension reform. Bossi and Berlusconi have now agreed to put past differences behind them.

Berlusconi took over as foreign minister following Ruggiero's resignation and has repeatedly pledged to maintain Italy's traditional pro-European stance.

Berlusconi sought to avoid further dissent on Monday by saying everyone knew about "Umberto's colourful language."

At his party conference, Bossi told supporters the EU was "the new fascism because it refuses to accept popular sovereignty," and demanded "civil resistance against the technocratic and corrupt European superstate."

The comments come as the EU begins planning for enlargement, which could see its membership double within a few years.