(ANSA) - Rome, November 15 - The Senate's constitutional affairs committee on Wednesday officially approved a provision recognising Chant of the Italians as the national anthem.

The energetic tune, frequently called Mameli's Hymn by Italians after lyrics from a poem by Goffredo Mameli, was adopted as the provisional national anthem when Italy abolished the monarchy and became a republic in 1946.

No law had subsequently been passed making the decision final.

