ROME - Government inspectors were expected at the Campidoglio Monday in a crackdown on hundreds of municipal police who went sick on New Year's Eve.

 The inspectors from the Civil Service ministry were dispatched by public function minister Marianna Madia to interrogate the absenteeist agents as Italian Premier Matteo Renzi called for seriousness and quipped the police officers' mass sickness was unusual for "a country where people are cured of Ebola".

 Madia said there would be "disciplinary action" to "hit the irresponsible people" as opposition parties claimed the 85% absenteeism rate on Dec. 31 was "an affair concocted by the media" and the police trade union for its part said Rome mayor Ignazio Marino should resign for calling for the offending officers to be sacked.

 Renzi said new norms making it easier to fire public servants would be introduced in a delegate law next month.

 First officers being quizzed by the inspectors were 44 agents "who provided no justification for absence from the shifts on the night of New Year's Eve," Deputy Mayor Luigi Nieri said.

 As many as 905 municipal police were ordered on duty on Dec. 31 but of those 767, or 85%, did not show up for work.  Of those 571, or 75%, called in sick while the others claimed they were giving blood.

 "Oviously the overall figure of 85% absence is unacceptable and has to be investigated in general," said Nieri. The Rome police force also has started an internal inquiry headed by deputy commanding office Raffaella Modafferi.

 Police trade union leader Mauro Cordova counter-attacked however by telling Marino to resign "if he really loves Rome."

 Giancarlo Cosentino of the national CISL trade union federation concurred, saying "the mayor continues to sling mud at what he does not understand."

 CIGL federation official Claudio DI Bernardino said that "Instead of promoting discussions to find the right solution the mayor threatens sackings."