Rome  - Inter Milan coach Jose Mouri

Rome - Italian marathon runner Alberico Di Cecco has been banned f

Catania, Sicily  - A 24-year-old German tourist was in a "critical" condition in Sicily on Tuesday after she was bitten by feral dogs close to where a boy was killed in a similar attack on Sunday.

The woman was taken by helicopter to a hospital in Catania where her life was "in danger" following injuries to the face, chest, abdomen and legs, a hospital official Angelo Pellicano said.

Rome - Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday departed Rome for his first trip as pontiff to Africa, with stops scheduled in Cameroon and Angola.

Benedict, on board an Alitalia Boeing 777 jet, left Rome's Fiumicino airport just after 10.00 a. m. (0900GMT) and was scheduled to arrive in Yaounde's Nsimalen airport in Cameroon's capital, Yaounde, following a six-hour flight.

On Friday the pontiff plans to fly to Angola, from where he is scheduled to return to Rome on March 23.

Valletta, Malta - A diplomatic spat was brewing Monday between Malta and Italy after Maltese authorities refused to take 65 would-be immigrants rescued from a dinghy by an Italian warship.

The group was picked up late Sunday some 40 nautical miles south west the Italian islet of Lampedusa and some 115 nautical miles from Malta.

Italian authorities say the area falls under Malta's rescue responsibilities, a claim disputed by Maltese officials.

Rome - AC Milan's 5-2 win over Siena and the 300th goal from Filippo Inzaghi have been overshadowed by a season-ending injury of goalkeeper Christian Abbiati.

Abbiati, 32, collided with team mate Giuseppe Favalli at the weekend during Sunday's Serie A game in the Tuscany town, suffering a blow to his knee.

The exact nature of the injury was to be determined in medical examinations. The club fears Abbiati ruptured ligaments as he became the latest man in Milan's list of long-term absentees.