Berlusconi says Italian women so beautiful they need protection from rapists

Sun Jan 25, 2:56 PM

By The Associated Press

ROME - Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi is being criticized for suggesting that Italy's women are so beautiful they need military escorts to avoid being raped.

Berlusconi made the comments Sunday, responding to questions about a proposal to deploy 300,000 soldiers in the streets to fight crime.

A string of violent crimes, including a rape in Rome on New Year's Eve and another outside the capital this week, prompted the proposal for added security.

But Berlusconi said even with added police, such crimes can happen, and that Italy needs so many soldiers on the streets "because our women are so beautiful."

Opposition legislator Giovanna Melandri called Berlusconi's comments "profoundly offensive."

Berlusconi says he was just complimenting Italian women.