G8 may consider L'Aquila for summit

L'AQUILA, Italy, April 23 (UPI) -- The Italian government has taken a step toward holding a Group of Eight meeting in L'Aquila, which was devastated by an earthquake this month, officials said.

Meeting in L'Aquila, the cabinet approved a motion to move the G8 meeting scheduled for July on the Sardinian island of La Maddalena, ANSA reported Thursday. The other G8 members -- the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Russia -- would have to agree to moving the meeting to L'Aquila, where an April 6 earthquake killed almost 300 people and caused widespread destruction of buildings and property.

The Italian officials also approved 8 billion euro ($10.5 billion) for reconstruction, ANSA said.

The G8 meeting is scheduled to be held at a former U.S. Navy submarine base July 8-12.

Citing government sources, ANSA said some Italian officials are concerned that holding the summit in L'Aquila could present logistical and security problems -- particularly since La Maddalena was selected because of its security advantages.

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi told reporters Thursday he doesn't think protestors "would have the desire, gall or heart to demonstrate" in L'Aquila.