Italian minister to sport cartoon t-shirts

ROME, Feb. 15 (UPI) -- An Italian government minister said Wednesday he will wear T-shirts featuring the Prophet Mohammed cartoons that have sparked global incidences of violence.

Reforms Minister Roberto Calderoli rejected accusations the T-shirts were meant to provoke Muslims, but added there was no reason to attempt a dialogue with religious extremists.

"I have had T-shirts made with the cartoons that have upset Islam and I shall start wearing them today," Calderoli told Italian newspapers, despite a request by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi not to do so.

"It is time to put an end to this tale that we need dialogue with these people," he asserted.

Calderoli, a prominent figure of the anti-immigrant Northern League party, also challenged the premier to take a stronger stance in defending what he said were "Christian values".

Italy's leading Muslim group, the Union of Islamic communities and organisations in Italy tried to defuse a potential row over the cartoons on Tuesday by advising mosques in the country not to organise protests.

Violence and demonstrations have swept from Europe to Asia since the 12 cartoons satirizing the Prophet Mohammed as a terrorist were re-published.

Two people died Wedndesday in northwestern Pakistan when police fired tear gas shells and shot in the air to quell demonstrators. The deaths brought the toll from the cartoon protests in Pakistan to five and worldwide to 17.