CROSS RULING, LAW TRUMPS COMMON SENSE SAYS BERSANI

CROSS RULING, LAW TRUMPS COMMON SENSE SAYS BERSANI

(ANSA) - Brussels, November 3 - Italy's new opposition leader Pierluigi Bersani said a European court ruling against crosses in Italian schools trumped common sense.

''I think that on delicate issues like this, sometimes common sense falls victim to the law,'' said Bersani, who was recently elected head of the centre-left Democratic Party (PD).

''I think a longstanding tradition like the crucifix can't be offensive to anyone,'' said Bersani, a former Communist.

Earlier, some members of the PD praised the ruling but others were less keen while Italy's ruling conservatives voiced outrage and the government said it would appeal.