Rome, Nov 19 - Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has ruled out a general election and said his government was "solid".

In a statement which followed days of mounting tension within Berlusconi's conservative ruling coalition, he said the parliament would serve its full term.

"I am astonished at the proliferating reports claiming there will be a snap election. I have never entertained any such idea," he said.

Rome, Nov 19 - Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has rejected a decision by the European Court of Human Rights opposing the display of the crucifix in school classrooms in officially secular Italy, saying it is important to maintain traditions.

"It is of fundamental importance to maintain your own traditions, and Italy has a Christian and Catholic background. Therefore, to keep the tradition of the crucifix in the schools is extremely important," the Dalai Lama told a media conference at Italy's chamber of deputies Wednesday.

Rome  - Brazil striker Amauri has said he looks forward to playing with the Italian national team when he obtains naturalization and asked for respect from those who would rather not see him don the Azzurri jersey.

Italian media Wednesday quoted the Juventus footballer as saying that he decided a year ago that he wanted to play with the world champions.

The debate on Amauri's naturalization heated up when Sampdoria striker Giampaolo Pazzini said after a friendly he played Saturday with Italy that he felt "a little disturbed" by the likely arrival of Amauri.

Rome  - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon opened Monday the United Nations food summit in Rome with a stark reminder of the plight affecting the world's hungry, and a warning that the situation will worsen unless harmful climate change is curbed.

"This day, more than 17,000 children will die of hunger. One every five seconds. Six million children a year," Ban said.

Rome  - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon opened Monday the United Nations food summit in Rome with a stark reminder of the plight affecting the world's hungry, and a warning that the situation will worsen unless harmful climate change is curbed.

"This day, more than 17,000 children will die of hunger. One every five seconds. Six million children a year," Ban said.

Rome  - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon opened Monday the United Nations food summit in Rome with a stark reminder of the plight affecting the world's hungry, and a warning that the situation will worsen unless harmful climate change is curbed.

"This day, more than 17,000 children will die of hunger. One every five seconds. Six million children a year," Ban said.

Rome - Thousands of football fans rallied Saturday in Rome to protest against the introduction of a card to regulate access to games, Italian media reported.

Police said that about 5,000 fans from various clubs met in the capital. None of them carried flags from their teams.

The Ministry of the interior plans to introduce the card in January, asking the clubs to identify their fans and banning those who were involved in violence.

Rome - Coach Mario Beretta has said he will not return on the bench of Serie A side strugglers Siena, who this week appeared set to hire him, Italian media reported Saturday.

"I am very sorry to have to say that the negotiation for my return to Siena is definitely over," Beretta was quoted as saying.

Beretta, 50, coached Siena in 2006-2007, was fired after narrowly escaping relegation, but was called back nine games into the following season, again managing to remain in the top flight.

Rome  - Roma's international midfielder Daniele De Rossi Monday was to undergo surgery to treat a broken cheekbone, the Serie A club's website reported.

De Rossi, 26, left the pitch grimacing in pain late Sunday after an aerial clash with Inter Milan's Patrick Vieira during the two sides's 1-1 league draw in Milan.

Roma coach Claudio Ranieri complained about the many fouls from the Serie A frontrunners.

"It was a very good Roma," he said. "We scared them (going one up) and they battered us. I like physical football, but here they exaggerated.

Rome  - Rome marked the fall of Berlin Wall on Monday with a multimedia event held on the Spanish Steps, one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Italian capital.

A chunk of the Wall was on display to the accompaniment of the Pink Floyd song, Another Brick in the Wall.

Mayor Gianni Alemanno opened the display in front of a curious audience that included hundreds of schoolchildren.

The event, held under the slogan "On the way to Freedom," was due to continue until evening.

Rome - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi holds forth on his various alleged sexual transgressions, his legal battles, and his views on government, both his own and through history, in a new two-volume book by a sympathetic Italian journalist.

In Donne di Cuori, or Queens of Hearts, Berlusconi attempts to set the record straight on his relationship with the Napolian schoolgirl Noemi Letizia, his contacts with other minors and his alleged orgies with prostitutes in the government palace.

Rome  - Ghana midfielder Stephen Appiah was due to start training with underdogs Bologna later on Tuesday as he rejoins the Italian Serie A from a four-year absence, the northern Italian club said on their website.

"We knew that Appiah was without a contract (after three years at Turkey side Fenerbahce) and looking for an opportunity in a club willing to welcome him after a major injury that sidelined him for a while," Bologna president Francesca Menarini said.

Rome  - David Beckham is due back at AC Milan where he will play from January to the end of the season on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy.

"We are very happy to see David Beckham again donning the red-black jersey after the great experience of the past season," Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said late Monday.

"We are certain that this period in Europe will help the footballer to take part in the next World Cup (with England in the summer of 2010) and then continue his career with Los Angeles Galaxy, whom we want to thank for their helpfulness."

Rome  - Police have arrested a footballer after he played a weekend game as captain of a lower-division side despite having been placed under surveillance, Italian media reported Monday.

Giorgio Christian Buontempo, 27, on Sunday was on the pitch with Atletico Capurso, a club from a town in the southern region of Puglia who played against visitors ACD Milan Club, from nearby Molfetta.

Rome  - Coach Fabio Capello has criticized Italian football for being unable to control hooligans who influence the games with their violent behaviour, Italian media reported Monday.

"Here the ultras are in control and do what they want," Capello said at a conference held at the headquarters of the Italian football federation (Italian football federation
(FIGC).

"At the stadium you can insult anyone and everything. I'm sorry about that."

Capello won five titles in Italy, two with Real Madrid, and is now in charge of England.

Rome  - Juventus striker Vincenzo Iaquinta is to undergo knee surgery following an injury sustained in training Saturday and which sidelined him for a Serie A game at Siena, the Turin club said Monday.

The 29-year-old Italian international will be operated Tuesday on his left knee to remove part of a damaged meniscus.

Iaquinta has scored four goals in eight appearances this season and could be out until next year.(dpa)

Vatican City  - The Vatican began talks Monday with representatives of the rebel ultra-traditionalist Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX), nine months after Pope Benedict XVI's controversially pardoned four of the group's bishops, including one who is a Holocaust-denier.

The talks will attempt to solve doctrinal disputes that stem from the SSPX's rejection of moves modernizing the Catholic church introduced through the so-called Second Vatican Council reform process of the 1960s.

Rome - Sampdoria breezed past struggling 10-man guest side Bologna Saturday, securing a 4-1 win that allowed them to leapfrog Inter Milan atop the Italian Serie A ahead of a late game the champions are to play against Catania.

Giampaolo Pazzini, Reto Ziegler and Daniele Mannini - twice - were on target for the Genoa side, which had notched only two points from the last two games after a 1-0 win over Inter.

Samp now have 20 points from nine games. But Inter can regain a two-point lead if they beat lowly visitors Catania.

Rome - Danish director Nicolo Donato's film Brotherhood, about two men who become lovers after joining a gang of neo-Nazis, won Friday the Rome Film Festival's Golden Marc'Aurelio Best Film prize.

Veteran British star Helen Mirren picked up the Silver Marc'Aurelio Best Actress award for her portrayal of Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy's wife, Countess Sofya, in US director Michael Hoffman's The Last Station.

Rome  - Brazil striker Pato managed to be both triumphant and down to earth as he left the Santiago Barnabeu with two more goals to his name in AC Milan's stunning
3-2 win at Real Madrid.

The brace consecrated the young Brazilian as the new flagbearer for the Devils and suddenly made the Devils' fans forget the displeasure of seeing Brazil ace Kaka leave for Real last summer.

After an indifferent start to the season, the 20-year-old had a fair share of praise on Thursday as Italian media, however, focused mainly on a win that could signal the end of a glum period for the red-blacks.