Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said on Monday that the presence of Italian troops in Iraq was "indispensable" to "ensure order and security for humanitarian missions."

The most radical parts of the Italian center-left opposition called for an immediate withdrawal of Italian troops following the latest fighting between Iraqi rebels and Italian forces that left one Italian dead and 20 wounded.

The more moderate left-wing parties have urged a withdrawal unless the United Nations is given a lead role in the country.

Throughout the weekend, mortar, rocket and small-arms fire was directed at the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) building from an adjacent hospital in the southern Iraqi city of Nassiriya.

Italian Defense Chief of Staff, Admiral Giampaolo Di Paola saidon Monday that the Italian defenders of the CPA building had responded in accordance with their rules of engagement but had "restricted" their fire for fear of hitting civilians.

Italian Defense Minister Antonio Martino stressed that the Italian contingent had not overstepped the bounds of its peacekeeping mission.

Almost 3,000 Italian troops are serving in Iraq, mainly as partof a British-led multinational stabilization force in the south ofthe country.

Source: Xinhua