Organisers agree to close Monte Cassino 'Santa village

Monte Cassino
 CASSINO - Organisers of the tacky 'Santa's village' at the Monte Cassino battlefield site bowed to growing pressure Friday and said they will close the project on Monday.
 The decision came after a week of protests including a sharp note by the Polish Embassy to the Italian Foreign ministry.
 Local heritage groups hailed the decision as a victory but said they would be vigilant and seek to prevent the battlefield being 'desecrated' by other commercial projects in the future.
 jp