U2 lead singer Bono has complained strongly to Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi about the use of his picture in a magazine promoting the Italian government's achievements ahead of next week's elections.
The glossy, 161-page magazine was published by Berlusconi's Forza Italia (Go Italy!) party and has been sent to millions of Italian households ahead of the April 9th-10th ballot.
At one point it features a picture of Bono with the caption: "The Irish star is grateful to the prime minister for the actions promoted by the Italian government towards poor countries."
Bono, who is a prominent campaigner for the cancellation of developing world debt, says in an open letter in the Italian daily Corriere Della Sera: "Dear Mr Berlusconi, even though I am flattered to appear in your electoral brochure, I also feel a bit exploited . . ."
Calling the "Drop The Debt" campaign one "of the most important movements of the last 50 years", Bono points out that 9,500 people die every day in Africa from either HIV Aids or malaria.
Bono then points out that, under Mr Berlusconi's government, Italy has dropped to the bottom of the league table of the world's 22 richest nations for its pro-capita spending on behalf of the developing world. He says Italy would have to more than double its donations by 2010 to honour a commitment it made last year.
"If your commitment is real and your signature is trustworthy, then the world wants to know how Italy intends to reach this target," Bono states in the letter.
The Italian government replied in a statement yesterday. "The difficulties we are going through - and we are not the only ones - due to the unfavourable economic context, are visible to all and can cause some delays, but certainly not the non-fulfilment [ of Italy's commitments]," it said. "We will show with the facts the strength of our commitment to the poorest countries."