Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said this evening he considered the controversy he set off by comparing a German politician to a Nazi prison guard closed.
When asked if the controversy was closed, Mr Berlusconi told reporters at the US embassy in Rome: "As far as I'm concerned it is."
Earlier in the day, he said he had not apologised for the Nazi jibe he made at the European Parliament on the second day of Italy's EU presidency. He said he was sorry his comments had been "interpreted badly".
Mr Berlusconi set off a diplomatic storm this week in the European Parliament when he told a lawmaker who had criticised him that he would be perfect playing the part of a concentration camp guard in a film.
"It was only supposed to be an ironic comment. I did not make an apology. I spoke of my saddness over a comment that was interpreted badly, but it was only intended as an ironic comment," Mr Berlusconi told reporters, referring to a conversation he had yesterday with German Chancellor Mr Gerhard Schroeder.
The target of the insult, German socialist Mr Martin Schulz, says he is not interested in a personal apology from the Italian leader. But he does expect an apology extended to the parliament itself.
The leader of Britain's Labour MEPs, Mr Gary Titley said: "Our message for Berlusconi is that this parliament must get the clear and unambiguous apology it deserves."
Agencies