Hand over our fugitives Salvini tells Macron

(ANSA) - Rome, January 23 - Deputy Premier and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini on Wednesday called on French President Emmanuel Macron to take action to hand over Italian fugitives living in France.
    The government has said it is out to bring more terrorists to justice after the recent return from South America of Cesare Battisti, a former leftwing terrorist who is now serving a life sentence for four murders after 37 years as a fugitive. There are reportedly 14 fugitives accused of crimes from Italy's 'years of lead' of political violence in the 1970s and 80s who have been tracked down to France.
    The justice ministry said extradition requests had been sent to France for all those fugitives, contradicting French Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet who had said earlier in the day that no such requests had yet been made.
    "I have read that Battisti is complaining. Oh, the poor killer," said League leader Salvini.
    "He should have dignity and apologise to those whose family members he took away.
    "He should have the good taste to be silent. He should have thought before he shot.
    "We'll ask the French president to do what (Brazilian President Jair) Bolsonaro did, and I thank him again.
    "I'd like the French president and the French government to show that same good sense... we await a signal of good will".
    Earlier on Wednesday, French Justice Minister Nicole Belloubet told France Inter that was it was "possible" that there were 14 Italian terrorist fugitives in France. But the minister added that no extradition requests had been received "yet".