The Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, has defended his government's decision to return migrants found off its shores to Libya by declaring that his party rejected the idea of a "multi-ethnic" Italy.

His remark prompted an outcry from opposition politicians, already indignant at his refusal to condemn an ally in Milan who last week proposed that seats and carriages on local public transport be reserved for native Italians.

Immigrants account for an estimated 7% of the population in Italy. Piero Fassino, a leading opposition politician, said: "Without immigrants, Italy's productive system would have serious gaps."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/may/10/silvio-berlusconi-italy-immigrants-libya

..proposed that seats and carriages on local public transport be reserved for native Italians

Good one Silvio!!