FT reported that Mr Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian premier, warned Alcoa, the US aluminium producer, that it risked damaging its relations with the Italian government if it went ahead with its decision to shut down two smelters.

In a letter to Mr Klaus Kleinfeld, Alcoa CEO, Mr Berlusconi urged the US giant not to act on its decision to shut down two smelters by February 6 and to wait for the outcome of Alcoa's appeal to the European Commission over electricity subsidies.
Mr Berlusconi said that shutting down the two plants in Sardinia and near Venice could alter relations between the Italian government and the multinational.

Mr Berlusconi's statement reflected the government's alarm at rising job losses across Italian operations of Aloca.

(Sourced from FT)