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NEWLY APPOINTED: Cecile Kyenge

AN INVESTIGATION has been launched by the Italian government after their first ever black cabinet minister was subjected to a torrent of racist abuse on several right-wing websites.

Cecile Kyenge was appointed integration minister on April 27 in the new government created by Prime Minister Enrico Letta.

But the Congolese-born eye doctor from the Democratic Party was targeted by neo-fascist websites who labelled the 48-year-old a "Congolese monkey," "Zulu" and "the black anti-Italian” just to name a few derogatory comments.

Equal opportunities minister Josefa Idem declared that they will be launching an investigation into the sites.

"I am doing this in my capacity as new minister for equal opportunities but above all as a woman,” said Idem.