Italy To Fight Terrorism

In the wake of the recent London bombings, security looms high on the Olympic agenda.

To this end, Italy has promised that it will fight terrorism "with every tool that we have" to ensure the safety of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.

Government officials and Turin organisers unveiled plans for a symbolic "Olympic Truce" for the games next February.

It seems that there have been threats on the internet mentioning Italy as a possible target for future attacks.

Mario Pescante, a government minister and supervisor of the Turin Games, said:

"We're doing everything in our power to ensure that the Turin Games represent a white flag...The other day I took part in a four-hour meeting on security. We will confront terrorism with every tool that we have."

Pescante refused to divulge details of the security plans for Turin.

Valentino Castellani, head of the Turin organising committee, said:

"The safest places in Italy in 2006 will be the Olympic sites...They will be protected and checked before by police, (access) will only be by accreditation, and X-ray security checks will be carried out."

Pescante, who is also an International Olympic Committee member and head of the European Olympic Committees, said that the truce appeal was not "explicitly related" to the London attacks.

Inspired by the cease-fire between warring city-states during the ancient games in Greece, the Olympic truce was reintroduced on a more symbolic level for the 1992 Barcelona Games.