BRASILIA, Brazil, June 23 (UPI) -- Brazilian officials said they will grant a residence visa to a former Italian terrorist.
Authorities in Brasilia said they would give a permanent visa to four-time convicted murderer and ex-terrorist Cesare Battisti, the Italian news agency ANSA reported Thursday.
The decision to grant the visa came after the Brazilian supreme court refused to extradite Battisti and released him from custody, leading to the recall of Italy's ambassador.
Relatives of Battisti's victims protested outside the Brazilian embassy in Rome and consular offices in other Italian cities. The Northern League, a key component of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government, called for a boycott of Brazilian goods.
Italy has filed an appeal with the International Court of Justice in The Hague against extradition denial.
In April 2007, Battisti was arrested in Brazil, five years after fleeing to that country to escape extradition from France to Italy.
In January 2009, Brazil granted him political asylum, which was reversed by the Brazilian supreme court in 2009.
Battisti's lawyers said he would continue to live in Brazil.
