CROSS RULING 'DEATH BLOW' TO VALUES, FRATTINI

CROSS RULING 'DEATH BLOW' TO VALUES, FRATTINI

(ANSA) - Marrakech, November 3 - The European Court of Human Rights ruling that crosses in Italian classrooms flout religious freedom is a ''death blow for a Europe of values and rights,'' Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said Tuesday.

Frattini said Europe's roots lay in its ''Christian identity''.

He added that Tuesday's ruling was ''a very bad precedent for other religions''.

''At a time when we're trying to bring religions closer, the Christian religion gets whacked''.

''The Italian government will appeal, we criticise the ruling for the implications it may have''.

Frattini was speaking during a visit to Morocco.