Silvio Berlusconi, Italy’s centre-right prime minister, on Wednesday defended his government’s controversial decision to deploy 500 soldiers in the Naples region in what his interior minister has called a “civil war” with the Mafia.

“The state will intervene with its strength and authority to defend the rights of citizens. No criminal organisation or minority can stop us,” Mr Berlusconi told a news conference on his ninth visit to Naples since returning to office in May.