'Gomorrah' author may flee Italy

NAPLES , Italy, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- Naples-born author Roberto Saviano says he may have to leave Italy because his life is in danger after he wrote the mob expose "Gomorrah."

Saviano has been living under police protection since his book debuted in 2006 and the 28-year-old writer allegedly began getting death threats from the Neapolitan mafia about which he wrote.

Security reportedly has been tightened now that a movie adaptation of the tome was selected as Italy's Oscar entry and death threats against Saviano allegedly have become more frequent.

But the BBC quoted Saviano as saying he is tired of having his freedom limited and he might leave Italy if it means he can go out in public without endangering himself.

"I want my life back," he told Rome's Repubblica. "I want to be able to walk in the sun and the rain. I want to fall in love, to drink a beer in public -- to meet my mother without her being terrified."

The BBC said Saviano also told the newspaper that being under police protection is making it hard to write because he's out of touch with real life.