Panel supports arrest of Berlusconi ally

ROME, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- An Italian legislative committee voted to support the arrest of an ally of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, government officials said.

The panel supported the request for the arrest of Nicola Cosentino made by a prosecutor in Naples in an 11-10 vote, the Italian news agency ANSA reported Tuesday. Cosentino, who resigned as Berlusconi's economics undersecretary last year, is suspected of lobbying Unicredit, Italy's largest bank, to provide funds for a shopping mall backed by the Neapolitan mob, the Camorra.

The Northern League, sealing its break with Berlusconi, supported Cosentino's arrest.

Cosentino remains an official with Berlusconi's party in the Naples region. He quit the government amidst allegations he had been leaning on judges to give Berlusconi favorable treatment.

The lower house of Parliament is scheduled to vote on the arrest Thursday.