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Berlusconi Nazi jibe row deepens
STRASBOURG, France (CNN) -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is under mounting pressure to apologize after comparing a German lawmaker to a Nazi concentration camp commander during a speech to the European Parliament. Berlusconi was laying out his agenda in Strasbourg Wednesday at the start of Italy's six months in charge of the rotating European Union presidency. The controversial Italian prime minister told Socialist MEP Martin Schulz: "I know in Italy there is a producer, producing a film on Nazi concentration camps. I will suggest you for the role of kapo (commander). You would be perfect for that role." Berlusconi's comment, which he insisted was meant as an ironic joke, sparked fury and overshadowed the presentation of Italy's priorities for its six-month EU presidency. Euro MPs on all political sides condemned the attack, warning it went beyond a personal insult and had plunged the European Union into crisis. The diplomatic fallout reached Berlin, where the Italian ambassador was called by German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder for an explanation. Opposition Italian MPs demanded that he resign, and even some of his political allies expressed dismay at his outburst. Berlusconi later said he did not mean to offend German feelings, but he declined to retract the comment or apologise to Social Democratic MEP Martin Schulz. The vice-president of the European Socialist group, British Labour MEP Gary Titley, said leaders of the political groups would meet on Thursday afternoon to discuss what action to take if Berlusconi refused to apologise. "If there's no apology ... the presidents of the political groups will ask the president of the parliament to declare that we are officially in conflict with the council, which in essence means we don't cooperate with the council," Titley the BBC. After leaving the European Parliament chamber Berlusconi shrugged the row off as a "stupid side issue", declaring: "If people are not able to understand irony, I am very sorry, that's too bad, but I am not withdrawing what I said with irony." Berlusconi was angered when he was interrupted by protests from about 15 Green members who held placards in various languages saying, "All equal under the law." Berlusconi has been condemned by opponents at home for changing the judicial system and making himself immune from prosecution while on trial for allegedly bribing judges. (Full story) The conservative billionaire -- a media magnate and allegedly the richest man in Italy -- has been dogged by a series of corruption cases in Italian courts. Berlusconi has faced various charges, including alleged bribery of judges, money laundering, tax evasion and false accounting. He has lately persuaded Italy's parliament to back a series of measures designed to freeze proceedings against him and to prevent him facing further charges while he remains in office. This, along with his wide-reaching business interests, drew criticism at the weekend from some European newspapers. (Full story) Berlusconi lost his cool during a question-and-answer session, when Schulz made reference to Italy's new immunity law. Following Berlusconi's remark, an upset Schulz responded: "Let me say to him my respect of the victims of fascism will not permit me to deal with that kind of claim at all, but it's very difficult for me to accept that a council president should be exercising this office at all when he comes up with this kind of statement and when he is in the least contradictive." To that, Berlusconi retorted: "Some people may not have heard what Mr. Schulz has said, but he offended me personally and he was gesticulating and he used a tone of voice which is not acceptable in a parliament such as this one. "And so I spoke with irony when I was so speaking. If you are not able to understand irony I'm very sorry, that's too bad, but I am not withdrawing what I said with irony if Mr. Schulz doesn't withdraw the personal offenses that he made against me." A few minutes later, Berlusconi added, "To the adversaries I would like to say with a smile that they shouldn't make our presidency into a tragedy. In fact, six months will soon be over." Members of the parliament responded with laughter, but Cox suspended the session. Political observers will also be watching how Berlusconi handles European Commission President Romano Prodi, a fellow Italian and political opponent. -- CNN European Political Editor Robin Oakley contributed to this report.
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