Italy PM defends quake camping quip

Apr 8 2009

Italy's PM Silvio Berlusconi has dismissed criticism of his comments to quake survivors that living in a tent was like going camping and they should go to the beach.

He said the remarks were meant to infuse the people with optimism.

Mr Berlusconi made the outburst during a visit to the homeless in one of the tent camps set up in the central Italian region of Abruzzo after Monday's 6.3-magnitude quake which killed at least 260 people.

Mr Berlusconi has gone to the disaster area every day, surveying the damage in a helicopter and reviewing rescue operations.

On Tuesday he invited some of the homeless to go to Italy's eastern coast, where hotels are being readied to accommodate survivors.

"Go by the seaside," he said. "It is only an hour away from here by bus and there are plenty of hotels at your disposal that are paid for by the state."

"Put on some sun block," he told one homeless woman, drawing cheers from onlookers. He also said life in a tent was like camping.

Asked about his comments on Wednesday, Mr Berlusconi said he did not think they were inappropriate. He insisted: "I don't think it's out of place. I think children yesterday could use a smile, a little bit of optimism and playfulness."

Mr Berlusconi said he did not want "an atmosphere of pessimism, negativity, disease and death" to prevail in the places where survivors were being sheltered.

The premier said his appeal to use hotels on Italy's eastern coast had been heeded as some 10,000 homeless had taken shelter there.