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Italian leaders

clash in live

debate

ROME: Five party leaders sought to impress Italy's wavering voters on Tuesday in a heated television clash that gave the nation a live taste of campaign rhetoric, insults and confusion.

For the first time in a no-holds-barred campaign for the April 21 election, the leaders from the centre-right, centre-left and federalist Northern League held a live two-and-a-half hour debate on RAI state television.

The tone was set within minutes when centre-right Freedom Alliance leader Silvio Berlusconi and Massimo D'Alema, leader of the Democratic Party of the Left (PDS), clashed angrily over economic policy and began talking at once.

Berlusconi said reforms were necessary before measures could be taken to reduce taxes, prompting D'Alema to say that "finally, Berlusconi has explained that a reduction in tax revenue is not currently possible".

As the two men tried to drown each other out, mediator Bruno Vespa struggled to restore order.

"I had hoped this evening that we could discuss calmly without aggression and violence," said D'Alema, whose party is the major force in the centre-left "Olive Tree" bloc contesting Italy's third election in four years.

"I understand that this time there are no heckling supporters, so Berlusconi is making up for it by preventing his partner in the debate from talking."

"You are a professional when it comes to disinformation," an angry Berlusconi chided D'Alema.

The broadcast was marked by all five party leaders repeatedly talking at once, hurling insults or trying to score points by reminding the viewers of their opponents' histories in a country plagued by scandal.-Reuter