Madrid - The Spanish government Friday expressed unusually harsh criticism of Italy's measures against illegal immigration, saying Spain "rejects violence, racism and xenophobia."

"The government does not share the policy of expulsions without respect to the law and rights," Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega said.

She described immigration as a "necessary phenomenon, which is good as long as it is legal and orderly."

There were legal mechanisms to combat illegal immigration, Vega pointed out.

Hundreds of undocumented immigrants have been arrested in Italy over the past few days. (dpa)