Andreotti in death probe

The former Italian prime minister Giulio Andreotti is under inquiry over the murder of a journalist, who a Mafia turncoat alleges was shot as a favour to the politician, state television channels reported yesterday, Reuter reports from Rome.

The reports said Mr Andreotti, who was prime minister at the time of the killing, was on a list of those under inquiry in an investigation into the killing of journalist Mimo Pecorelli, shot outside his Rome news agency in 1979. Mr Andreotti was only placed on the list after volunteering evidence to Rome magistrates.