Italy minister quits over remarks

Stefani offered his resignation and apologised for his remarks

An Italian Government minister has resigned after his outspoken remarks about German tourists prompted Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder to cancel a holiday in Italy.

Tourism Minister Stefano Stefani described Germans as hyper-nationalistic blond louts who invaded Italy's beaches.

An apology from Mr Stefani - a junior minister - has also been published in the Saturday edition of Germany's top-selling tabloid newspaper, Bild.

Mr Stefani's comments followed an incident in the European Parliament in which Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi compared a German member to a Nazi concentration camp guard.

I have just called Berlusconi to announce my resignation from the post of junior minister Stefano Stefani Minister's remarks about German tourists

Italy's Ansa news agency said Mr Stefani announced his resignation at a meeting of his Northern League Party near Verona.

"He has expressed regret because he was only defending Italy and its prime minister," said a government spokesman.

"I love Germany," Mr Stefani wrote to Bild. "If, through my words, a misunderstanding resulted for many Germans, I would like to hereby apologise many times."

Mr Stefani also told the daily that he never intended to hurt anyone's feelings.

Mounting pressure

The comments had embarrassed many in Mr Berlusconi's government, with some ministers openly distancing themselves.

In recent days, pressure had been mounting on Mr Berlusconi at home and from Germany to remove the official.

Italy's deputy premier Gianfranco Fini told reporters on Friday that Mr Stefani's comments were "not normal" and suggested the minister might resign.

"I think he [Berlusconi] will ask him to draw conclusions from what happened," he said.

Tourist companies believe Mr Stefani's comments and Mr Schroeder's decision to cancel his annual two-week holiday in Italy are likely to have an effect on the millions of German visitors to Italy each summer.

Italian tourist officials have appealed to Germans - who account for about a quarter of all foreign visitors to Italy - to go ahead with holiday plans despite the war of words.