MP Mussolini in attack on paedophiles

Alessandra Mussolini, the granddaughter of Italy's Fascist dictator Benito, has called for paedophiles to be chemically castrated.

Ms Mussolini, who is an MP with the Alleanza Nazionale party, repeated her proposal in the Italian parliament during a debate on child sex offenders after police smashed a child internet porn ring.

She said: "I think it is time for Italy to carry out a good experiment. These people are sick. They need to be made inoffensive. Reoffenders must be made to undergo hormone treatment to reduce their libido."

Ms Mussolini, who first called for chemical castration two years ago, was speaking after Italian police uncovered a child internet porn ring involved in the abuse of 70 children in Italy, Britain, the United States, Denmark and Switzerland.

Chemical castration involves administering medication to reduce testosterone levels. It is used in the US, Sweden, Denmark, France, Norway and Switzerland. In most cases it is optional.