BERLIN, July 9 (UPI) -- A war of insults has erupted between Italy and Germany, resulting in German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder canceling an Italian summer vacation.
The BBC said the latest flap started when Italian tourism minister Stefano Stefani labeled German tourists "hyper-nationalistic blondes" and accused them of being rowdy beach invaders
When Schroeder canceled his vacation, his Italian counterpart, Silvio Berlusconi, said he felt "sorry" for Schroeder.
The BBC said all that follows last week's European parliament outburst by Berlusconi, who compared a German minister with a Nazi prison guard.
Schroeder says he will now spend his holiday in his hometown of Hanover.
Although Italy is appealing to millions of other Germans to continue with their plans to vacation in Italy, German Interior Minister Otto Schily said, "Those who kick you in the shins and spit at you must not be surprised that that is not good publicity for their country."
