Rome census reveals the hopes and fears of gypsies (AFP)

by Emmanuelle Andreani 7 minutes ago ROME (AFP) - Italy's policy towards immigrants -- notably ethnic Romanians, many of them Roma -- has come under intense scrutiny since Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said last month that security forces would fingerprint gypsies. About 50 people, mostly gypsies, or Roma, live in one camp outside Rome without water or electricity, among rats and in shocking hygiene conditions. "Have you come to hunt us or help us?" asked Rogi when Red Cross volunteers arrived at his camp to conduct a census as part of the Berlusconi government's controversial crackdown on immigrants. Like other inhabitants of the camp, Rogi, a member of the Roma minority from Romania, greeted the volunteers with suspicion. The 10 volunteers made their way between the tents, shacks, bits of furniture and mattresses in the... [read full story]