Vatican City - A diplomatic spat between the Vatican and Israel over the Gaza crisis seemed set to intensify Thursday when the Holy See's top justice official defended his remarks that Gaza "is a big concentration camp."

Cardinal Renato Martino, in an interview with Rome-daily La Repubblica, also dismissed Israeli government criticism that his comments were "based on Hamas propaganda".

"They (Israeli authorities) can say what they want," Martino told La Repubblica.

On December 27, Israel launched a military offensive against the Islamic militant Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, in response to rocket attacks from the enclave.

Rome - A strong and

Rome - Hundreds of holiday and business travellers were stranded Tuesday at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci airport due to a wildcat strike that forced the cancellation of dozens of flights.

Baggage handlers and maintenance staff stopped work to protest negotiations about the future of the country's flagship carrier, Alitalia.

By mid-afternoon some 39 incoming flights and four departures were scrapped at the Rome hub, the ANSA news agency reported.

Some 100 flights were cancelled on Monday at the airport, also known as Fiumicino.

Rome  - AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani Saturday presented David Beckham to Italian media and fans, welcoming the English star as he joins the Devils on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy

The 33-year-old Beckham is to remain at Milan until March 9, after which he will rejoin the US team in California.

"Good evening everybody and first of all a heartfelt thanks to all of you," Beckham said at a press conference at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium.

Rome  - Lazio edged out visiting Palermo 1-0 Saturday in a game that the Sicilian guests ended with ten men at Rome's Stadio Olimpico.

Veteran Tommaso Rocchi came on in the second half to score the winner, deflecting home a low cross from Frenchman Mourad Meghni.

The win allowed Lazio to end a bad run that saw them notch two meagre points in five games. It moved on to sixth place on 27 points as the Serie A gears up for a three-week winter break after its 17th round.

Rome - Centuries after their blood-sport was banned, duelling gladiators in full combat gear could soon be making a comeback in the most famous fight arena of them all - Rome's Colosseum.

"Rather than enshrine (historical sites) we need to make them more spectacular," says the Italian capital's archaeological superintendent Umberto Broccoli, whose brainchild the idea is.

More than 1,500 years since the last recorded gladiator bout in Rome, it is still possible to meet near the Colosseum, men - and some women too - clad in armour and brandishing replica swords and spears.