Berlusconi targets looters in camps

The Italian prime minister said he was concerned by reports of looting in the temporary camps set up after Monday's earthquake

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Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi visits rescuers in the Civil Protection operation unit set up in a school, in L'Aquila, Italy, yesterday.Pic/AP

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi yesterday said he was concerned by reports of looting in the temporary camps set up after Monday's earthquake.

some 17,700 people were sheltering in temporary camps set up by the authorities. A further 10,000 were in other accommodation, he said.

Berlusconi said he was planning to introduce new legislation to impose "very severe punishment" on people caught committing the crime. Whoever is low enough to try to take advantage of a tragedy like this shows a total lack of morals and will be very severely punished," he said.

Troops will also be deployed to guard vacant homes, said Berlusconi. During an earlier visit to a camp, Berlusconi caused controversy by comparing the experience to a "a weekend of camping".