Sicilian president in mafia trial

[emad]

Sophie Arie in Rome
Wednesday November 3, 2004
The Guardian

Sicily's top official, a member of Silvio Berlusconi's government coalition, was ordered to stand trial yesterday for aiding the mafia.
Salvatore Cuffaro, president of the region of Sicily and a member of the Christian Democrat party (UDC), is one of 12 people who will stand trial from February in a case involving protection and medical care given to the mafia boss Bernardo Provenzano, on the run for over three decades, the Ansa news agency said. The case will fuel suspicions that Mr Berlusconi's centre-right allies cut a deal with the local mafia to ensure control of Sicily. Mr Cuffaro denies the charges.

He is thought to have links with a Sicilian businessman, Michele Aiello. The case focuses on allegations by a mafia supergrass, Antonino Giuffre, that a clinic near Palermo, owned by Mr Aiello, gave medical assistance to Provenzano. Mr Aiello was arrested last year.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/italy/story/0,12576,1341842,00.html

With Licio Gelli and Flavio Carbone in the dock for the 1982 murder of God's Banker Roberto Calvi and the disappearance of $400 million of Banco Ambrosiano's assets, the P2 Lodge ain't doing so well at the moment.....NO WONDER they need a Bush2 victory..........