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THE UNITED Nations, the government of Egypt and the Vatican yesterday all accused Italy of a “deep-rooted problem of racism” towards African migrant workers. The critical comments came after three days of violent unrest last week in the small Calabrian town of Rosarno, where African seasonal farm workers, police and residents all clashed.

More than 1,000 African migrant workers, mainly from Burkino Faso, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Togo, were forced to flee from Rosarno over the weekend, fearing for their lives in the face of violent attacks by some residents. More than 50 people were injured in the clashes which began last Thursday after two migrants were injured by air-gun fire. At least three migrants were beaten with iron bars in a subsequent climate of caccia al nero (chase the black man).