Rome - An Italian police chief, Mr Gianni De Gennaro, facing mounting criticism over security tactics at last month's G8 summit in Genoa, admitted yesterday his officers had used excessive force to control demonstrators.
Although he said his force had made mistakes, he suggested that "guerrilla-style actions by violent criminals" had triggered at least some of the police's actions.
Violent protests during the summit from July 20th to 22nd killed one rioter - Carlo Giuliani (23), shot dead by police - and injured hundreds of others. More than 200 people were arrested.
Addressing a 38-member parliamentary commission of inquiry, Mr De Gennaro said the police had acted illegally in some instances and that those responsible would be "severely punished".