(ANSA) - Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi stressed in an interview published on Thursday that he continues to be a potential target for terrorist suicide bombers.
He referred to a report which reached Italian intelligence a week ago about a plan to organise a suicide bomb attack at an international soccer match in Milan.
"I am the object of a direct threat - a suicide bomber against me at the stadium," he said in the interview with conservative daily Libero.
The premier gave no further explanation of his claim in the interview, which was largely focused on international terrorism and the war in Iraq.
It emerged later that Italian intelligence officers were informed of an alleged plan to stage an attack at Milan's soccer stadium by their colleagues in the United States. US intelligence said the report came from a source whose reliability was uncertain.
Talking about the terrorist threat against him, the premier added: "But it's not just about me. It's Italy that's at stake here. How can you not realise this? We are exposed to deadly terrorist attacks."
Berlusconi is the owner of AC Milan,one of Italy's top clubs, and he often attends its home matches at the San Siro stadium in Milan. Sources at the Milan prosecutor's office said it had received no reports of an attempted or planned attack on the premier at the city's stadium.
The same sources pointed out that not every report from intelligence services is passed on to prosecutors because police filter the information in a bid to sift out cases where there appears to be evidence.
In the Libero interview, Berlusconi reiterated that he had done everything in his power to avert the war in Iraq. He railed against opposition politicians who cast doubt on this. He said he wanted the world to know his position on Iraq and to remember that Italy had not taken part inthe United States-led attack. It sent troops afterwards to help with the reconstruction.
"I don't hide anything. I always let the truth be known so there'll be no pretexts for those who want to organise attacks. That's why I'm highlighting my absolute readiness for dialogue with Islamic countries."
Because of its military presence in Iraq, Italy has been threatened with bomb attacks several times by extremist Islamist groups using the Internet. Berlusconi has often been mentioned as a target. Both the premier and the interior minister, Giuseppe Pisanu, frequently note that Italy is a target for terrorist attacks, just like other U.S. allies.
