Amnesty International is urging authorities in Italy and the European Union to protect the human rights of thousands of Tunisians fleeing unrest in their country.

France and Italy are resisting pressure from human rights groups and the European Parliament over their continued mistreatment of Roma people.

A breakaway Catholic group have for the first time ordained a woman priest. The Italian Old Catholic Church carried out the ceremony in Rome yesterday. It has taken on symbolic importance.

Lithuania has come out in support of Italy in its efforts to revise a ruling of the European Court of Human Rights that recommends State schools throughout Italy to remove crucifixes from classrooms.