STRASBOURG/ROME - THE European Court of Human Rights ruled on Tuesday that Italian schools should remove crucifixes from classrooms, sparking uproar in Italy, where such icons are embedded in the national psyche.

'This is an abhorrent ruling,' said Rocco Buttiglione, a former culture minister who helped write papal encyclicals. 'It must be rejected with firmness. Italy has its culture, its traditions and its history. Those who come among us must understand and accept this culture and this history,' he said.

The court ruling, which Italy said it would appeal, said crucifixes on school walls, a common sight that is part of every Italian's life, could disturb children who were not Christians.

Italy has been in the throes of national debate on how to deal with a growing population of immigrants, mostly Muslims, and the court sentence is likely to become another battle cry for the centre-right government's policy to restrict newcomers.

The Vatican spokesman said he would not comment until he knew more about the ruling but Italy's powerful bishops' conference said the ruling 'evokes sadness and bewilderment'.

Members of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government bristled, weighing in with words such as 'shameful", 'offensive", 'absurd,' "unacceptable,' and 'pagan'. -- REUTERS