Two second-half penalties converted by Barreto had put the Apulians on course for a place in the top six of Serie A, but Goran Pandev replied before a Diego Milito penalty earned the Nerazzurri a share of the spoils.

The draw extended Inter's lead over AC Milan at the top of Serie A to nine points, although their rivals can reduce that gap by beating Siena tomorrow.

The two Milanese clubs meet for the Derby della Madonnina next weekend.

Bari had won their last five games at their Stadio San Nicola, which was packed with almost 60,000 fans.

After respecting a minute's silence to remember those killed in the Haiti earthquake, the home fans got behind their team, urging them forward from start to finish.

Barreto was lively in the Bari attack and he kept the Inter defenders on their toes as the home side looked the more determined in the first 45 minutes.

Edgar Alvarez had the first chance of the game in the 28th minute, forcing a fine reflex save out of Julio Cesar to deny him at his near post.

Alessandro had the only other chance of the first half five minutes later, but Julio Cesar again pushed the ball behind for a corner.

The San Nicola erupted on the hour mark when Riccardo Meggiorini's cross struck the arm of Walter Samuel inside the penalty and referee Roberto Rosetti pointed to the spot.

Barreto struck the penalty into the bottom-left corner, sending Julio Cesar the wrong way.

The hosts were awarded a second spot-kick just three minutes later when an unnecessary tackle from behind by Lucio on Alessandro Parisi saw Rosetti point to the spot for a second time.

Barreto chose the other corner this time with Julio Cesar again going the wrong way as Bari doubled their lead.

Inter finally showed a reaction and Pandev danced his way through the Bari defenders before beating Jean-Francois Gillet at his near post in the 69th minute.

And three minutes later, Rosetti awarded the third penalty of the night when Leonardo Bonucci felled Pandev inside the area and it was Milito who kept his cool this time to beat Gillet from the spot and bring Inter level.

Bari had the chance to win the game when Barreto sent Alvarez through on goal, but a poor first touch from the Honduran full-back took the ball too close to Julio Cesar, who averted the danger.

Because of that miss, Alvarez received jeers from some sections of the crowd when he was removed just a few minutes from time, but his replacement Pedro Kamata could not bring the winning goal as Bari had to settle for a point and an end to their five-game winning streak at home.

The point still took them up to eighth with a game in hand on most of the teams above them, which will be played at Genoa on Wednesday.