The warning issued by the US State Department this week about possible terror attacks in Italy during Holy Week celebrations has triggered diplomatic tensions in usually friendly bilateral relations.

The Italian authorities said a report from Washington states that a commando of seven or eight terrorists, ready for action, has already entered Italy to launch possible "terrorist actions" in the northern cities of Florence, Milan, Venice and Verona.

The US State Department's communiqu says "a possible threat exists to US citizens on Easter Sunday from extremist groups."

Although the announcement did not identify the groups, security sources said the threat came from Islamic extremists.

The official warning states that "these groups do not distinguish between official and civilian targets," and recommends that US citizens should avoid large crowds.

Italy's conservative Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, stated yesterday that the situation is "under control" and urged the population and the wave of tourists in the country for the Holy Week holidays to remain calm.

Italian authorities were reportedly angered by the United States surprise issuing of the warning, with some saying that doing so played into the hands of the terrorists.

But a US official stated that it is an "obligation to warn American citizens and the whole world when credible and specific reports of a threat exist."

"We have been in contact with Rome and we will continue working in close contact to ensure the security of American citizens and interests in Italy," said the official.

The exchange of messages between Rome and Washington has cooled relations between the two countries.

Both Berlusconi and his Interior Minister, Claudio Scajola, have attempted to reassure the population. The prime minister said there is "no special cause for alarm" beyond those that have affected "all Western countries since the Sept 11 attacks in the United States."

In a signal of his own sense of tranquillity, Scajola stated publicly that he would be spending these days of religious celebrations in Florence and Venice, two of the cities cited as potential targets for the attacks.

No evidence

Washington's warning creates the risk of sparking a crisis in Italian tourism, a sector that is already suffering, and of sullying the image of the Berlusconi government, which has gone to great pains to build an image of absolute efficiency in all areas, from security to the economy, said an editorial in the Italian daily La Repubblica .

The government is paying close attention to the reports from the Italian intelligence services, which "do not give greater cause for concern than those that already exist, and as we have taken all possible measures, we can be calm," said Berlusconi.

Scajola, meanwhile, told the US-based cable channel CNN that "no specific threat exists, nor have we found any evidence to confirm" that there is a danger.

Italy's Defence Minister Antonio Martino commented that the US warning "could cause panic, even if it is unintentional," adding that he believes "the decision to release an announcement of this type was unfortunate and inopportune."

"When a threat and a date are announced, either the date is correct and by disseminating it in all directions it serves as a signal for the terrorists to change it, or the date is false and there is no reason to release it because it only frightens the people," Martino said.

The United States has opted to play down Italy's anger about the public dissemination of the warning.

A representative of the US embassy in Rome said the Italian government's frustration is understandable, given the concern of the population and the economic impact potentially caused by the announcement.

However, said the official, because it involves credible reports based on intelligence gathered, and not on declared threats, and because the attacks could occur precisely during religious celebrations, it was necessary to issue the warning.

The US embassy insisted that there was no other alternative: "The reports were specific and credible enough for us to feel obligated to share them with our citizens living in Italy."

Security reinforced

The Italian government, in spite of its criticisms, reinforced security in the four cities Washington identified as potential targets of attacks, and also in Rome.

The security apparatus set up in Italy after the Sept 11 attacks in New York and Washington was placed on maximum alert, but the government urged the population to remain calm.

The chief of police in Venice, Remo Smitti, said St Mark's Square, the most likely objective of a terrorist attack, is being guarded by hundreds of security agents.

The authorities called all security personnel to work, including those who had been granted leave to spend the Easter holiday with their families.

The results of a poll published yesterday by La Repubblica shows that 55 percent of the respondents believe the warning issued by the United States reflects a real threat, while 32 percent said no danger exists. (IPS)