Italy's interior minister has sparked criticism with a proposal that would see police fingerprinting all members of the Roma community living in camps

Roberto Maroni, of the anti-immigrant Northern League, said the move would guarantee that those with the right to stay could live in decent conditions. Those without that right, including children, would be sent home, he said. The UN Children's Fund (Unicef) has criticised the proposal, as have opposition MPs. Mr Maroni said the fingerprinting of Roma - or Gypsy - people would include "children too, to avoid phenomena like begging". The Italian government has blamed illegal immigrants, mostly from eastern Europe, for the high crime levels in southern Italy.