Italian cities see 'positive' results from troops: minister

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

ROME (AFP) — Eleven days after Italy deployed 3,000 troops to patrol major cities and sensitive areas, Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said Friday that the early results of the operation were positive.

"Even if it is too early to draw conclusions, the first results of the plan for the deployment of 3,000 soldiers are positive," said Maroni following a meeting with the national committee for order and security.

Since soldiers were deployed on the streets of Rome, Naples, Milan and other urban centres on August 4, they had arrested 37 people and stopped 1,139 cars, 10 of which had been seized, he said.

Of those arrested, 33 were from outside the European Union, he said.

The purpose of the operation is to "guarantee more security, and citizens have...