Italian President to Testify in Mafia Trial

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano will testify as a witness in a trial over alleged secret negotiations between the state and the mafia, a court in Sicily decided Thursday.

Napolitano issued a brief statement acknowledging the Palermo court's decision and said: "I have no problem giving testimony as soon as possible."

The date of the hearing has not been set, but it will take place behind closed doors at Quirinal, the presidential office, according to Italian media.

Napolitano, a very respected figure in Italy, had written to the Palermo court last October that he had nothing specific to say about the case but that he would be willing to be a witness if asked.

The case concerns suspected secret negotiations between government officials and Sicilian mafia leaders in the early 1990s to avoid an investigation into a wave of murderous attacks. A lawmaker and anti-mafia judges were among the victims.

Ten people, including the interior minister at the time Nicola Mancino as well as imprisoned mafia chief Toto Riina are among the accused.

Italian media have dubbed the case "La Trattativa" (The Negotiation) which allegedly would have led to an agreement to end the attacks in exchange for easing the conditions of some 300 jailed mafia members and reducing sentences.