The Italian government yesterday rejected suggestions that it had been indirectly involved in Monday's capture in Kenya of Kurdish rebel leader Mr Abdullah Ocalan.
The PKK leader, who was seized by Turkish forces while on his way to Nairobi airport, had been at the centre of diplomatic tensions between Italy and Turkey during a two-month residence in Rome between November and January, during which time Italy failed to grant Turkey's extradition request for him.
Speaking in the lower house yesterday, the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Sergio Mattarella, denied allegations from opposition spokesman Mr Giuseppe Pisanu of Forza Italia suggesting that Mr Ocalan's departure from Italy last month for a "destination unknown" had been orchestrated by Italian secret services following the "less than crystal clear line" taken by the Italian government.
"There was no secret pact involving Italy and no deal done with any third country . . . the government would never have made such a deal with any country," Mr Mattarella said.
"Ocalan left Italy of his own free will and even though the government was willing to help him find a country that would afford him shelter, the choice of the country to which he eventually travelled was made by Ocalan himself."
Mr Mattarella went on to point out that Mr Ocalan's request for political asylum in Italy was still being processed.