Italian defence minister warns Brazil over fugitive ex-terrorist

Feb 10, 2009, 15:28 GMT

Rome - Italian Defence Minister Ingazio La Russa warned Tuesday that relations between his country and Brazil could suffer unless a fugitive former leftist terrorist and convicted murderer is returned to Italy.

La Russa did not elaborate on what the consequences might be, according to the ANSA news agency.

Italian leaders are pushing for Cesare Battisti's extradition, but Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has also stressed the importance of Italy's 'close ties' with Brazil.

La Russa, who was speaking ahead of a football match between the two nations Tuesday evening, also seemingly lashed out at the players for not manifesting their disapproval of Brazil's reluctance to hand over Battisti.

La Russa criticized 'those who have even refused to wear an armband.'

Some Italian officials, have suggested players from both teams - inlcuding several Brazilians who play for clubs in Italy - should display black armbands to show their support for Battisti's extradition from Brazil.

But Italy's football federation has rejected the proposal, saying that politics should not interfere with the mathc which is billed as a 'friendly'.

Many in Italy have voiced anger at Brazil's sheltering of Battisti who has been on the run from Italian authorities since 1981.

He escaped from prison while awaiting trial for four killings committed by the extremist group Armed Proletarians for Communism. He was subsequently tried in absentia and sentenced to life imprisonment for two of the killigs.

Battisti, who has always denied involvement in the killings, first fled to France, where he benefited from a policy introduced by then- president Francois Mitterand granting Italian leftists refuge. He embraced a new career as a mystery writer.

However, sensing that France was reversing its asylum policy after spending some time in detention, Battisti disappeared in 2004. He re- emerged in Brazil, where he was arrested in March 2007 following a request from Interpol.

In January, Brazil's government granted Battisti political refugee status. The country's judiciary is currently reviewing the decision.