Italy, Romania at odds over fatal brawl

ROME, May 1 (UPI) -- Italian rightist lawmakers used a fatal incident in Rome involving Romanian women to stir up an immigration quarrel, Italian media said Tuesday.

Doina Matei, a 21-year-old Romanian woman was arrested on Sunday accused of stabbing Italian Vanessa Russo, 23, in the eye with an umbrella's tip during a brawl Thursday at Rome's Termini railway station, the Italian news agency Ansa reported.

The umbrella's tip cut an artery to Russo's brain and she died the next day in a hospital.

The arrest of Matei and her 17-year-old friend, both suspected prostitutes, infuriated rightist opposition deputies who immediately called for tighter immigration controls.

Ansa quoted Italian sources as saying Matei had a police record after violating immigration laws in November 2006. However, Romania's access to the European Union Jan. 1 this year canceled Matei's expulsion order.

Piergiorgio Stiffoni of the opposition Northern League said they warned the government even before Romania joined the EU that immigrants from Eastern Europe were committing crimes in Italy.

The Northern League accused the government of being responsible for the tragedy in Rome.

A rightist National Alliance lawmaker said the number of immigrants allowed into Italy should be limited.