The Italian government on Friday appointed the country's top police officers to lead an all-out war on the Calabrian mafia, or 'Ndrangheta, according to Italian News Agency ANSA.

The Italian cabinet also approved a plan for a six-pronged offensive against the powerful crime syndicate, considered to be responsible for the murder of an important local politician two weeks ago.

"This is not a temporary response," said Italian Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu. "It is ambitious, regards the whole of Calabria and is destined to last a long time."

"The fight won't be short or easy," he added.

The job of directing the battle against the 'Ndrangheta was given to Italy's deputy police chief Luigi De Sena, who was appointed prefect of the Calabrian capital, Reggio Calabria, with special powers.

De Sena has long experience in fighting organised crime and has recently been the main architect of the government's strategy against the Calabrian mob.

Pisanu said he had decided against sending the army to Calabria because, although this would have a strong psychological impact on the region, it would be "of little practical use".

The need for a new, concerted effort to rein in the 'Ndrangheta was made plain by the murder earlier this month of Franco Fortugno, deputy chairman of the regional "parliament".

The slaying was seen by many observers as a direct challenge to the authority of the state in the southern region, over which the ' Ndrangheta exerts its influence through at least 75 local clans.

Most experts agree the 'Ndrangheta, which specializes in drug smuggling from South America, is now more powerful and more dangerous than Cosa Nostra, the Sicilian mafia.

It is believed to generate an annual turnover of some 35 billion euros, more than Calabria's entire legal economy.

Since 1995, 30 town councils have been dissolved because they were deemed to be controlled by the 'Ndrangheta. Last year, 89 local administrators received threats.