Di Maio meets French ambassador

(ANSA) - Rome, February 22 - Deputy Premier Luigi Di Maio on Friday met French Ambassador Christian Masset in the envoy's first meeting with an Italian government official since he returned to Rome after being recalled to Paris for consultations after Di Maio met Yellow Vest protesters in Paris.
    Masset, the embassy said "recalled France's desire to work with Italy on all issues within the framework of mutual respect and the desire to cooperate".
    The meeting was at Di Maio's request.
    The diplomatic spat came after the French government denounced what it called "unprecedented attacks" on issues including migrants, as well as Di Maio's meeting with a Yellow Vest member who has urged a military coup in France.
    Since then Di Maio has said he will never again meet "violent" Yellow Vest members, but has not ruled out a possible alliance between his 5-Star Movement (M5S) and the French protest movement at the European elections in May.