Milan - Their standing in the Serie A may not show it clearly, but champions Inter Milan are facing some unexpected problems in a defence package that was crucial for them in the successes of the past seasons.

The five goals conceded in the last two games, a 3-2 win over tail-enders Reggina and a 3-3 draw at Cypriot side Anorthosis, sent bad signals that president Massimo Moratti did not fail to point out.

"There must be something to adjust," he said. "It's partly a psychological problem and a matter of mistakes. They make them, and if you make mistakes, you concede goals."

Santiago de Compostela, Spain  - Spanish police were Wednesday investigating the killing of the captain of an Italian freighter off north-western Spain, police said.

Rome - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi envisages a "continuing friendship" between Italy and the US under president- elect Barack Obama, and could assist him in improving US relations with Russia, the premier's spokesman said Wednesday.

Berlusconi - a personal friend of outgoing President George W Bush, whose military intervention in Iraq he backed - would have no problem adapting to the new Democrat president, spokesman Paolo Bonaiuti told Italian state radio.

Milan - Serie A newcomers Chievo Tuesday announced the signing of coach Domenico Di Carlo to replace Beppe Iachini after 10 league games.

Milan - AC Milan have reacted with a mix of surprise and pride to their rise to the top of the Italian Serie A, a place they last occupied more than four years ago.

Their start to the season was a nightmare with two defeats, at home to promoted Bologna and at Genoa, but the following seven wins and one draw have now pushed them to the top on a 22-point tally from 10 games.

A lucky 1-0 win over Napoli, who were down to 10 men and hurt themselves with an own goal, allowed the Devils to leap ahead of Udinese, Napoli, and, probably msot important, champions Inter Milan.

London, Nov 4 : In a bizarre incident that has been described as a Wild West-style “saloon bar brawl”, a priest and two nuns were seen attacking an Italian restaurant owner.

The fight witnessed by passers-by started over an argument over the lease on the restaurant, owned by the Catholic Church.

The 49-year-old owner revealed that he had rushed to the eatery, in the village of Rutino near Salerno, in southern Italy, after hearing that the priest and nuns were causing trouble.

The fight resulted in the owner getting into an argument with the priest, who smashed a chair over his head, and the nuns joining in with kicks to his stomach.