Politicians across the divide on Wednesday slammed the Italian government's ''rockstar welcome'' of Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi in light of his human rights record.
Contravening city laws, a huge tent has been pitched in a Rome park for Gaddafi to stay in during his three-day state visit, during which he is being ferried around in a white limousine.
On Thursday the Libyan leader will address the Senate in his role as the rotating chairman of the African Union - a privilege that was refused to the Dalai Lama and has enraged critics.
Centrist UDC party leader Pier Ferdinando Casini described the government's treatment of Gaddafi as ''humiliating'' for Italy.
''There are ways of reinforcing diplomatic links with a country without overstepping the limits of decency and good taste and without forgetting years of repeated violations of human rights,'' Casini said.
Democratic Party (PD) senator Roberto della Seta slammed as ''indecent'' the ''rockstar welcome'' and the privileges being extended to ''a despot who for 40 years has kept his country under a ferocious personal dictatorship''.
''He should naturally be treated like a head of state, but without going overboard,'' he added.
Criticism came from across the political divide, with right-wing La Destra President Teodoro Buontempo saying it was ''unacceptable'' for Italy to ''genuflect in front of a Libyan despot known above all for his lack of respect for human rights''.
''Gaddafi was met at the airport with a guard of honour and the government has opened all its doors for him, forgetting that the colonel came to power 40 years ago in a coup,'' he said.
Marco Pannella of the Radical Party hit out at government figures for failing to make ''the smallest reference'' to Libya's human rights record, despite the fact that Italy will be paying out five billion euros over the next 20 years to Libya as part of a landmark friendship accord.
Angelo Bonelli of the Green Party described the pitching of the Libyan leader's tent as an ''act of arrogance''.
DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST GADDAFI PLANNED.
Human rights groups including Amnesty International were set to lead a demonstration against Gaddafi on Wednesday evening as he met with Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi.
Left-wing students have also vowed to stage protests on Thursday, when Gaddafi is set to take part in a debate with students at Rome's La Sapienza University.
Other protests, including one in reaction to the decision by Sardinia's University of Sassari to give the Libyan leader an honorary degree, are planned elsewhere in the capital.
PD senators meanwhile announced they would boycott Gaddafi's address to parliament's upper house on Thursday.
Italy of Values Senate whip Felice Belisario asked on Wednesday why a ''dictator'' (Gaddafi) was allowed to address the Senate, which he defined as a ''temple of democracy'', and not the Dalai Lama.
Reference to the Tibetan leader was also made by a government People of Freedom (PdL) MP, Benedetto Della Vedova, who recalled that ''two years ago, despite a request by over 100 MPs, the Dalai Lama was not allowed to address the lower house because of protocol''.
''Given this precedent, the appearance of the Libyan leader in the Senate appears both unjustified and inopportune,'' he added.
''It makes no sense to honor Gaddafi for what he is not nor appears ready to become: a democratic leader worthy of speaking in the house of Italian democracy, which is the parliament,'' the PdL MP said.
The only other foreign dignitaries who have addressed the Senate are former UN secretary general Kofi Annan and Spain's King Juan Carlos.
Radical Party leader Emma Bonino, who was elected to the Senate with the PD, expressed her hope that the address would be cancelled.
By allowing Gaddafi to address the Senate, the former European Union commissioner for human rights said, ''we are sending a disturbing message to those in the world who are fighting for democracy and human rights. And that message is that we welcome dictators even into our most democratic institutions''.
However, former foreign minister Massimo D'Alema of the PD said he found ''nothing scandalous'' about Gaddafi addressing the Senate, in both his roles as the leader of a former Italian colony in Rome for the first time and as current African Union president.
Gaddafi's address was not an official Senate sitting, so those ''who want to come can come, those who don't, don't have to,'' he added.
The leader of government ally the Northern League, Umberto Bossi, also spoke out against the critics.
''Gaddafi is helping Italy, he's stopping immigration a bit,'' said Bossi, referring to a recent agreement with Libya whereby illegal immigrants trying to cross the Mediterranean are intercepted and returned to the North African country.
''He's come all the way to Rome: he can't be stopped from speaking''.
