ROME'S NEW MAYOR PROMISES TO PURGE CITY OF IMMIGRANTS

Will this serve as a model to the rest of Europe? Is the proverbial poop about to hit the proverbial fan?

The new mayor of Rome has promised to purge the Italian capital of 20,000 illegal immigrants and to raze 85 gipsy camps.

Gianni Alemanno, 50, a firebrand neo-fascist and the first Right-wing mayor of the city since the Second World War, vowed to make Rome "secure" as he was sworn into office after his election at the weekend.

The election of Mr Alemanno confirmed a strong shift to the Right by Italians, who have been sickened by a spate of violent crimes committed by immigrants.

The new mayor said that his first action would be to begin "immediate expulsions" of the 20,000 immigrants in the city with criminal records.

"We cannot welcome them without discipline," he said. "We will chase out the delinquents. There are 85 abusive nomad camps to destroy."

Not surprisingly, cries of fascist are ringing out from the left. But what is the alternative? A never ending stream immigrants and the destruction of Italian society?

IS ROME'S NEW MAYOR A SIGN THAT EUROPE IS READY TO CONFRONT ISLAM?

Is Rome's recent election of a anti-immigration hard line mayor a sign that Europe, or at least the Italians, are fed up with Muslim immigration?

Italy's new parliament met for the first time today with applause for Rome's mayor-elect, Gianni Alemanno, a day after followers celebrated his triumph with straight-arm salutes and fascist-era chants.

Alemanno, a former neo-fascist youth leader, took 54% of the vote in a run-off on Sunday and Monday, crushing his rival, Francesco Rutelli, a deputy prime minister in the last, centre-left government.

On Monday night, the area around Rome's city hall rang to chants of "Duce! Duce!", the term adopted by Italy's dictator, Benito Mussolini, equivalent to the German "Führer". Supporters of the new mayor gave the fascist Roman straight-arm salutes.

Gianni Alemanno, the new right-wing mayor of Rome, has pledged to reinforce law and order and crack down on immigrants. And he says he wants to be mayor for all citizens in Rome.

During his campaign, Alemanno promised to consider tearing down the illegal gypsy and immigrant camps set up on the outskirts of the city.

Meanwhile, a study released on Tuesday indicated that most Italians have negative views about immigrants from Muslim countries.

Alemanno's victory marks yet another political victory in Italy for an anti-immigrant candidate. Silvio Berlusconi,who just won his third term as Italy's Prime Minister has been stocking his cabinet with anti-immigrations sympathizers.