ROME, August 4, 2008 (AFP) - Hundreds of Italian troops began patrolling the streets of major cities and sensitive areas Monday in a controversial move to boost security approved by the right-wing government last week.

Dressed in shirt-sleeve order and equipped with handguns, some 1,000 soldiers joined local police in Rome, Naples, Milan and other urban centres, press reports said from those cities.

Another 1,000 were deployed around vulnerable spots ranging from embassies to railway stations and churches, while a similar number were guarding holding centres for illegal migrants.

But mayor of Rome Gianni Alemanno said no soldier would patrol in the historic city centre where most tourists are concentrated.

On the island of Lampedusa, where thousands of migrants have arrived from Africa in recent months seeking to enter Europe, 70 air force troops were supplementing police who patrol the perimeter of a reception centre.

They are part of another 1,000 troops meant to be deployed around immigration centres.

The Italian left and police unions have criticised the use of troops, accusing Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government of seeking to 'militarize' city centres.

Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, of the anti-immigrant Northern League, said he wanted to 'give the public a better perception of security.'

The government which took office in April has linked crime and illegal immigration and passed a series of measures aimed at cracking down on both.

But officials Monday played down the decision to draft in troops.

'In 1992, 20,000 men were sent to Sicily alone' to allow police to concentrate on fighting the Mafia after attacks on judges, deputy chief of the general staff General Mario Buscemi was quoted by Monday's daily La Repubblica as saying.

The support provided by 3,000 troops spread across Italy would be minor and essentially symbolic, he said.