Roberto Calderoli

Roberto Calderoli, the Italian minister who has quit in the latest row over cartoons satirising the Prophet Muhammad, is known for his outspoken and often inflammatory comments.

A senior member of the anti-immigration Northern League party, he recently called Muslim immigrants in Italy "Ali Babas" who were stealing houses and jobs from native Italians.

He claimed responsibility for excluding immigrant families from a state handout for babies.

"All these Ali Babas should turn to Allah, or to their own governments - if they find time to devote to the needs of their people rather than the atomic bomb or buying arms," he said.

He has also said anyone trying to enter the country illegally should be "returned to sender" and those living illegally in Italy should be expelled.

"All the forces of law and order ought to be used and all, the good and the bad, should be removed - all, I stress all the illegals in town," he said.

"The period of the carrot has come to an end and now it's time for zero tolerance."

Last year, he and his party called for the "chemical castration" of those who commit sexual offences after a series of rapes in Italy by suspected illegal immigrants.

"This will put these beasts in a state of being unable to re-offend," he said.

'Battle for freedom'

The 49-year-old former dentist from the northern city of Bergamo was minister without portfolio for institutional reform and devolution.

Both he and his party, which holds the balance of power in Silvio Berlusconi's coalition, are euro-sceptic and have called for Italy to ditch the euro and return