"The dirty war in Iraq has killed another Italian soldier, a 23-year-old, while Berlusconi was celebrating the scudetto (the Italian championship title) won by AC Milan," said Oliviero Diliberto, national secretary of the Communist Party.

His comments came following an announcement that an Italian soldier who was injured in Iraq Sunday had died overnight.

Matteo Vanzan, a 23-year-old corporal, died after being injured in fighting with Shiite Muslim militiamen in the southern Iraqi city of Nasiriyah, a development that increased pressure on the Berlusconi government to withdraw Italy's 3,000-strong contingent.

Vanzan's mother urged the government in a television interview to "bring the others home," adding: "It's not fair to leave them there to die."

But Berlusconi insisted Monday that Italy's military presence in Iraq remained "indispensable" despite the death of Vanzan.

In a message of sympathy to Vanzan's family, Berlusconi said the man "died defending the values of freedom and democracy for which Italian contingents are engaged in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo and Bosnia."

Berlusconi explained his absence from Rome and lack of immediate comment saying: "I was attending a gala dinner that I could not avoid, but my heart was divided."

He said he had checked throughout the night on the condition of the soldier who had died by telephone.

But the Italian press said Berlusconi's attitude on Sunday contrasted with that of President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi who had remained in the capital.

La Repubblica noted that Berlusconi had reacted to news that several soldiers had been injured in fighting with Iraqi Shiite militia forces in southern Iraq several hours after Ciampi had spoken out on the issue.

"The fact that the prime minister was celebrating his team's victory during a time of anguish for many Italians is proof of the divide that exists between the Italian people and the government," said Marina Sereni, of the main opposition Democrats of the Left party.

Marco Follini, national secretary of the United Christian Democrats, one of the parties in the coalition government, also lamented Berlusconi's absence.

"On a day like that I would have avoided staying on at a party for my team," he said.

But Fabrizio Cicchito, a member of Berlusconi's Forza Italia party, denounced the criticism.

"Such speculation by a few irresponsible opposition members against the premier, who was kept informed of the dramatic situation in Nasiriyah, is odious," Cicchito said.

The opposition leader in the lower house of the Italian parliament, Luciano Violante, demanded that Berlusconi appear before lawmakers ahead of his trip to Washington on Tuesday for talks with US President George W. Bush.

A spokesman for the upper house said Berlusconi would address parliament on Thursday after he gets back.

Last week, Italy, one of the staunchest US allies in the war on Iraq, endured a growing firestorm over alleged abuse of Iraqi detainees witnessed by its forces in the occupied country.

The defence ministry meanwhile said five Italian soldiers were injured in the Nasiriyah fighting, while 16 Iraqis were killed and 14 injured in the clash, according to the latest toll provided by Nasiriyah hospital.

Italy, with the third large contingent in the coalition following the United States and Britain, has suffered casualties in Iraq before.

It lost 17 soldiers and two civilians in a massive bomb attack on their base in Nasiriyah on November 12, and four other civilians were taken hostage on April 12, one of whom was murdered two days later.

And three Italian security guards have been held hostage in Iraq since April 12. A fourth hostage, who was kidnapped the same day, was killed two days later.

WAR.WIRE