French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo has sparked a backlash in Italy over a cartoon in its latest edition.
Under the title "Italian Earthquake", a man and woman who appear injured are compared to Italian pasta dishes.
The man, who is bleeding, is called "Penne tomato sauce ", while the woman standing beside him has the title "Penne au gratin".
While to the right of them, pairs of feet stick out from under layers of rubble with the title "Lasagne".
More than 230 people died in the 6.2 magnitude earthquake in the August 24th quake.
The French embassy in Rome released a statement - quoted by Italian news agency ANSA - distancing itself from the piece.
It said the magazine "absolutely does not represent the position of France".
Image: Charlie Hebdo
The Hebdo reaction is being seen in stark contrast to Italy's response to the shootings at the magazine's offices in January 2015.
Many Italians expressed solidarity with France in the aftermath.
The cartoon is said to have especially upset residents of Amatrice, the hardest-hit town, which is famous for producing a tomato-based pasta sauce.
The mayor of the town, Sergo Pirozzi, said: "It was something done in terrible taste, an offence to the dead, to Italy and to a community.
"I think (it's) really ugly and if this is a way to get attention, I think it is crap that speaks for itself."
While users of social media seem equally disgusted:
Charlie Hebdo makes fun of #ItalyEarthquake victims. #jesuischarliehebdo my arse. pic.twitter.com/zFhrbgDETf
— Guido Tresoldi (@GuidoTresoldi) September 3, 2016
#CharlieHebdo #jenesuispascharlie pic.twitter.com/EZEoP0t9Ue
— Pippi (@CalzelunghePipi) September 6, 2016
La réponse des Italiens à Charlie Hebdo , frcht c'est largement mérité pic.twitter.com/aKjdSgvEJ2
— Lejeléõn (@nonomarseillais) September 7, 2016
This is just the latest protest against the publication, after it featured a cartoon using the image of drowned Syrian boy Alan Kurdi in Januay.
