Italian Politician Under Pressure To Step Down After Comparing Black Minister To an Orangutan

Roberto Calderoli is a member of the Northern League

ROME (AP) — Calls are mounting for the Senate vice president to resign after he compared Italy's first black Cabinet minister to an orangutan.

Roberto Calderoli, a leader of the anti -immigrant Northern League, has insisted he was only joking when he made the "aesthetic" comment about Cecile Kyenge at a League rally last weekend.

Kyenge, a Congolese-born eye doctor, has been insulted with racist slurs from the Northern League ever since she was named integration minister in April.