"He was one of the most elusive and effective international terrorists to emerge from the Middle East in the recent past," an Italian magistrate said.

Because of the sovereign status, Italian magistrates who want to investigate in the Vatican must ask permission.

He and his companies came under investigation after Italian magistrates started to investigate crimes of political corruption in the early 1990's.

As it is, the Italian magistrates admit they do not have enough evidence to indict.

The management, though, remained unchanged, and Italian magistrates are investigating possible fraud in what they believe may have been a paper transaction.

The Italian magistrates are still examining the causes of the fire, with workers describing lax safety measures to investigators.

Italian magistrates say seven people accused of involvement in the scandal have taken their lives since the investigation began.

"Italian magistrates go on strike", BBC News, 25 May 2004.

Giuseppe Manno (1786 - 1868) was an Italian magistrate, politician and historian.

Palazzolo claims he had been "persecuted" by Italian magistrates based on testimony given by crime figures who had turned state's witnesses.