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Italian President Napolitano to testify at Mafia trial Italian President Napolitano testifies at Mafia trial
(about 7 hours later)
Italian President Giorgio Napolitano is to give evidence at a high-profile anti-Mafia trial in Rome. Italian President Giorgio Napolitano has given evidence at a high-profile anti-Mafia trial in Rome.
Prosecutors are investigating possible collusion between ministers, police chiefs and the Mafia to end a period of violence in the early 1990s.Prosecutors are investigating possible collusion between ministers, police chiefs and the Mafia to end a period of violence in the early 1990s.
President Napolitano, 89, denies any knowledge of the negotiations.President Napolitano, 89, denies any knowledge of the negotiations.
Opposition politicians have called for his evidence not to be held behind closed doors when the trial moves from Palermo to the capital on Tuesday. The hearing took place behind closed doors, sparking protests from Italian journalists.
There is no suggestion that he was involved in any wrongdoing. There is no suggestion that President Napolitano was involved in any wrongdoing.
Prosecutors are investigating a dramatic period of Mafia violence in the 1990s - marked by car bombings and assassinations.Prosecutors are investigating a dramatic period of Mafia violence in the 1990s - marked by car bombings and assassinations.
They accuse the state of making an illegal deal with the Mafia to bring the violence to an end.They accuse the state of making an illegal deal with the Mafia to bring the violence to an end.
The BBC's James Reynolds in Rome says that prosecutors believe that President Napolitano may have been told of this deal in recent years and want to ask him exactly what he knew. The BBC's James Reynolds in the capital says that prosecutors believe that President Napolitano may have been told of this deal in recent years and want to ask him exactly what he knew.
In October last year, however, he wrote a letter to the court saying he had "no useful knowledge" to give the trial, but would have been happy to give evidence if he had. Prosecutors want to ask him about a letter sent to him from his legal adviser Loris D'Ambrosio in 2012 which implies that Mr Napolitano may have known about talks with the Mafia.
Prosecutors allege that government officials sought to make an agreement with the Mafia after bombings in 1993, reportedly promising less harsh jail conditions in exchange for calling off the bombing campaign. In October last year, however, the president wrote a letter to the court saying he had "no useful knowledge" to give the trial, but would have been happy to give evidence if he had.
Two leading anti-mafia prosecutors died in devastating explosions in Sicily. Two leading anti-mafia prosecutors, Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, died in devastating explosions in Sicily in 1992.
A former interior minister, Nicola Mancino, is on trial for allegedly negotiating with the Mafia after the attacks in Rome, Florence and Milan. There were further bombings in Rome, Florence and Milan in 1993.
Prosecutors allege that government officials sought to make an agreement with the Mafia, reportedly promising less harsh jail conditions in exchange for calling off the bombing campaign.
A former interior minister, Nicola Mancino, is on trial for allegedly negotiating with the Mafia after the attacks on the mainland.
Mr Mancino denies the charges.Mr Mancino denies the charges.
The court ruled last year that President Napolitano could not be asked about conversations he had with Mr Mancino in 2011 and 2012. Evidence from an intercepted phone-call was destroyed after an application from Mr Napolitano. At the time of the bombings, Giorgio Napolitano was president of Italy's Chamber of Deputies in the lower house of parliament.
The court ruled last year that President Napolitano could not be asked about conversations he had with Mr Mancino in 2011 and 2012.
Evidence from an intercepted phone-call was destroyed after an application from Mr Napolitano.
The former interior minister is on trial along with several other people including two jailed Mafia bosses, Toto Riina and Benardo Provenzano.The former interior minister is on trial along with several other people including two jailed Mafia bosses, Toto Riina and Benardo Provenzano.
Riina's lawyer has said he wants to question President Napolitano, but it is not clear whether the court will allow this.
A final verdict in the case is not expected for at least two more years.A final verdict in the case is not expected for at least two more years.