Brussels, 03/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - Following the explosion outside a Coptic church in Alexandria in Egypt, which killed 21 people and injured dozens more on New Year's eve, Italy has called on the EU to respond in clear and strong terms to this latest attack on Christians. Italian Foreign Affairs Minister Franco Frattini says that the Alexandria attacks demonstrate once again that “religious intolerance, above all against Christians, has taken on an intensity and dimension that is very serious and alarming and absolutely unacceptable”. The time has come for a strong political response and “the European Union must be at the frontline in this battle,” he said. Italy has asked for the issue to be discussed at the next Foreign affairs Council on 31 January, he indicated. (H.B./transl.rt)