Rome - Speaking ahead of a Middle East visit, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said Syria can play an important role in ensuring the success of an Egyptian-brokered end to the conflict in the Gaza Strip.

"Divisions have emerged" between Hamas representatives in the Gaza Strip and the militant Islamist group's exiled leadership in Syria over a ceasefire proposal to end the Israeli military offensive, Frattini said Thursday in an interview with Adnkronos International
(AKI) news agency.

Rome  - Italian football giants AC Milan have signed young Brazilian Felipe Mattioni on loan from Gremio Porto Alegre, La Gazzetta dello Sport reported on Thursday.

Mattioni is a 20-year-old defender holding Italian and Brazilian passports. Milan hold an option to have his full ownership when his Brazilian contract expires in 2011.

Speed and versatility are his main characteristics, allowing him to play both as right-flank defender and midfielder, although he was fielded also as central defender.

Rome  - A leading Italian Jewish religious leader has accused Pope Benedict XVI of moving to cancel "50-years" of work aimed at improving relations between Roman Catholics and Jews.

Elia Enrico Richetti, chief rabbi of Venice, made the remark in an article in which he explained the reasons why Italy's Jewish religious leaders intend to boycott an annual Church celebration of Judaism scheduled for Saturday.

Rome - Italian authorities appealed Wednesday to Brazilian Presid

Rome  - A visit paid by a group of high-profile Manchester United officials to the headquarter of AC Milan has triggered a spate of rumours about the possible transfer of Brazilian Kaka to the English powerhouse.

Although a transfer of the 2007 Ballon d'Or winner could be likely only at the end of the season, La Gazzetta dello Sport reported Tuesday that ManU may have offered Milan vice president Adriano Galliani 100 million euros (132 million dollars) for the 26-year-old forward.

Rome - In Italy the leader of a tiny retailer union's proposal to shun Jewish-owned shops to protest Israel's Gaza incursion has drawn wide condemnation, with Rome's mayor, a former prominent member of a neo-fascist party, taking the lead.

Mayor Gianni Alemanno on Thursday visited Rome's ancient Ghetto - where Jews were once segregated - and in a show solidarity, purchased a tie and several shirts from Jewish shopkeepers.

"It (the boycott) is a folly that takes us back to the past," Alemanno said, referring to the racist laws introduced by Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini in 1938.