Italy pledges leniency if Brazil gives up leftist

ROME, May 6 (Reuters) Italy has assured the Brazilian government that former leftist militant Cesare Battisti is unlikely to spend the rest of his life in prison if Brazil grants its request for him to be extradited.

Battisti, 52, was arrested in Rio de Janeiro in March after being on the run since a prison break in Italy 26 years ago.

As part of its formal extradition request, Italy stresses Battisti would be well treated and faces little risk of a real life term, a punishment not allowed in Brazilian law.

After his prison escape, Battisti was sentenced to life imprisonment in Italy for four murders and several robberies carried out in the 1970s as part of his activities with a left-wing group called Armed Proletarians for Communism.

''Rest assured that a life sentence, according to Italy's code, does not imply that those given this sentence have to stay in prison for their whole lives,'' Justice Minister Clemente Mastella wrote to the Brazilian authorities.

The contents of the letter were published in the Corriere della Sera daily today and were confirmed to Reuters by a ministry source.

Mastella said Italian law provided for a series of benefits for ''lifers'' which meant they were often released early, and in any case could spend much of their time outside prison even during their sentence.

''That letter was written in order that the Brazilian authorities don't reject the extradition request, by explaining that in Italy it's impossible in practice to serve out a full life sentence,'' said the source, who wished not to be named.

Battisti's lawyer, Eric Turcon, has said his client will fight Italy's request for his extradition.

''He was condemned in absentia by an Italian court. France and Brazil don't accept this type of condemnation for extraditions,'' Turcon said soon after Battisti's capture.

Battisti, 52, escaped from prison in 1981 and fled to Mexico, where he lived until moving to France in 1990. He found work there as a concierge and began writing thriller novels.

French authorities approved his extradition to Italy in 2005, but by then Battisti had left the country.

REUTERS SM RK2045