Italy may take Brazil to court over killer

ROME, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Italy threatened Monday to take Brazil to the International Criminal Court for its refusal to extradite convicted leftist terrorist Cesare Battisti.

''We are considering taking the case to the international tribunal at the Hague,'' Foreign Minister Franco Frattini told ANSA. ''We will not fail to make every possible effort. This extradition refusal sets a very dangerous precedent that could influence the fate of many wanted criminals."

Battisti, 56, a member of a leftist militant group in the 1970s, has been convicted of four murders in Italy. On Friday, his last day in office, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva rejected the extradition request, and Italy recalled its ambassador.

Frattini had already said Italy would appeal the decision to Brazil's Supreme Court, which ruled for extradition in 2009.

Jose Cardozo, justice minister for new President Dilma Rousseff, said Sunday Lula's decision was ''correct.''

Frattini scorned Battisti's successful petition for political asylum in Brazil on the grounds that his life would be in danger in Italy. He also threatened that an Italian-Brazilian treaty due to be ratified by the Italian Parliament this month could be held up.