Brazilian President Michel
Temer has decided to revoke former Italian leftist terrorist
Cesare Battisti's status as a political refugee, according to
media reports.
As a result, Battisti will be extradited to Italy to serve
two life terms for four 1970s murders unless his lawyers'
petition to the supreme court for him to be granted habeas
corpus is successful.
He was arrested last week in Corumba', on the border between
Brazil and Bolivia.
The alleged would-be escape was launched after reports that
the Brazilian government is moving towards extraditing Battisti
for the murders committed in the 1970s 'Years of Lead' of
rightist and leftist terror.
Battisti, who was provisionally released at the weekend, said
Tuesday he had not been trying to flee Brazil when he was picked
up in a taxi heading for Bolivia, saying he had no reason to do
so because he is still protected from extradition by former
president Lula's 2010 decree.
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