ROME, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- The family of Nazi war criminal Erich Priebke was in talks with German officials about burying Priebke in his homeland, the family's lawyer said Thursday.
However, lawyer Paolo Giachini stressed that formal discussions have not begun and the burial of Priebke, who died last week at age 100, may be in Italy, ANSA reported.
The issue of the unrepentant SS official's burial has escalated after his death Friday while under house arrest in Rome for his part in the slaughter of 335 men and boys, including 75 Jews, at the Ardeatine caves.
A funeral for Priebke in the town of Albano Laziale was abandoned Tuesday after protesters amid clashed with far-right extremists. Church and Rome city officials refused to grant permission for his funeral to take place in Rome
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After the scene Tuesday, Priebke's body was taken to a military airport by public order, ANSA said.
Rome Mayor Ignazio Marino said Wednesday the city was in contact with German authorities over what to do with the body of Priebke, but the German Foreign Ministry said the problem had to be solved by Italy. The ministry said Priebke had the right to be buried in his homeland but it was up to is family to initiate the proceedings.
"I've received a mandate from Mr. Priebke's family to contact the German embassy, which I have done," Giachini told ANSA. "The request for burial has not yet been made official, but contact has been made."
The attorney said he also was contacted by an Italian law firm on behalf of a client who was "offering a tomb for the burial in an Italian town."
"We are looking into whether this is possible from a political-administrative point of view," Giachini said.
