Mussolini honored at tomb on birthday

PREDAPPIO, Italy, July 30 (UPI) -- Thousands of followers of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini honored him on his birthday at his tomb, ignoring officials' pleas to "stay home."

A Roman Catholic priest celebrated mass at the cemetery in Predappio, Mussolini's northern Italian hometown, early Wednesday, the Italian news agency ANSA reported. Monica Mussolini, widow of the dictator's son, was among those present.

Mayor Giorgio Frassinetti described the annual gatherings Tuesday as a "sad and surreal carnival."

"Fascism tourists, please stay home," he said.

Shops selling Fascist memorabilia did well Wednesday. Pierluigi Pompignoli, proprietor of one of those stores, said the Fascists have never caused any trouble in Predappio.

Mussolini was captured and executed in April 1945 by Communist partisans as he attempted to leave Italy with departing German troops. His body was publicly displayed and then buried in an unmarked grave.

It was subsequently discovered and dug up by his followers and then recovered by the government. A decade later, he was finally interred for good in the town where he was born in 1883.