Italian lawmaker admits anonymous libel

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ROME, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- A conservative Italian lawmaker admitted Thursday that he wrote an anonymous anti-abortion article that led to an editor receiving a 14-month prison sentence.

Renato Farina, a member of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's People of Freedom Party, made the admission on the floor of the chamber of deputies after the court of cassation confirmed Alessandro Sallusti's prison term for criminal libel, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.

Sallusti was held legally responsible for the article in the newspaper Libero, which was signed "Dreyfus," because he refused to identify the author.

Farina is a former Libero editor. He wrote the Dreyfus article after a judge ruled that a 13-year-old girl could have an abortion.

"If there were the death penalty, and if it were ever applicable in a situation, this would be the case for the parents, the gynecologist and the judge," the article said.

Farina, who now writes a column for Libero, urged a new trial for Sallusti.

"That text signed 'Dreyfus' was written by me and I assume the full moral and legal responsibility," he said. "If someone needs to pay for that article, that someone is me."

Sallusti's sentence has been stayed for two months while President Giorgio Napolitano considers the case. Sallusti has said he doesn't plan to seek clemency and announced he would resign as editor of Il Giornale.

"In a country where balls are lacking even more than euros, I don't want to concede any way out to those who partook in this crap," he said. "I will not avoid the cell."