Italy calls India envoy over attacks on Christians

ROME (Reuters) - Italy's foreign ministry will summon India's ambassador to demand "incisive action" to prevent further attacks against Christians that have left 11 people dead in India so far, the government said on Thursday.

A statement issued after a cabinet meeting also said Italy would ask France, the current EU president, to take up the issue of attacks against Christians at a future meeting of foreign ministers.

Hindu mobs ransacked a church and clashed with Christian villagers in Orissa on Thursday as authorities struggled to control spiralling religious violence in the region.

Hindu mobs have destroyed more than a dozen churches and attacked Christians in eastern Orissa state this week after the murder of a Hindu leader in Kandhamal district, a tribal area where Christian missionaries have been active for years.

The Italian statement said the Indian ambassador would be told of the Rome's "strong expectations" for "an incisive, preventive and repressive action by Indian authorities regarding such unacceptable acts of violence".

Pope Benedict has strongly condemned the violence against Christians, which began after the killing of a Hindu leader.