Rome  -  A diplomatic crisis was brewing Saturday over remarks by Libyan leader Moamer Gaddafi's son, Saif el-Islam, against the possible inclusion in Italy's government of a former minister embroiled in the Prophet Mohammed cartoon row.

Italian political leaders from prime minister-elect Silvio Berluscon's centre-right to the opposition centre-left condemned the remarks attributed to Gaddafi's son late Friday.

Saif El Islam warned of "catastrophic consequences" for Italy's relations with Libya if Berlusconi names Roberto Calderoli in his future government, according to Italian news reports quoting Libya's official newsagency, Jana.

Jana also recalled how violence erupted in Libya in the wake of then reforms minister Calderoli's appearance on Italian television wearing a T-shirt decorated with a cartoon satirising the Prophet Mohammed.

Eleven people were killed in rioting near the Italian consulate in the Libyan city Bengasi on February 17, 2006. Calderoli was subsequently forced to resign.

On Friday evening, Calderoli, who is a leading member of the anti- immigration Northern League, dismissed Saif el-Islam's remarks.

"The choice of the government team is the prerogative of Berlusconi who received a mandate from the (Italian) people who are sovereign" Calderoli said, referring to the centre-right's triumph in Italy's elections last month.

"Any form of interference by foreign countries on Italy's internal politics is unacceptable, all the more so on the question of governments and their formation," said Enrico Gasbarra from the opposition Democratic Party.

Italy's foreign ministry should summon Libya's ambassador to Rome and demand explanations, according to Giampiero Catone from Berlsuconi's People of Freedom party which is allied to the Northern League.

In 2006 Calderoli justified his decision to display the cartoon as a form of freedom of expression. The cartoon on his T-shirt was a copy of one of a series first published in a Danish newspaper which sparked outrage among many Muslims. (dpa)