ACCUSED BEING BROUGHT FROM JAIL TO POLICE VANS; THE PALACE OF JUSTICE; ACCUSED LED INTO COURT; ACCUSED IN METAL CAGE.




Initials RM/V/AS/SS



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Background: THE TRIAL OF 113 ALLEGED "MAFIA" GANGSTERS -- DUE TO REOPEN IN CATANZARO, ITALY, TODAY (TUESDAY) - HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL SATURDAY BECAUSE ONE OF THE JUDGES IS ILL. THE ACCUSED, MANY OF WHOM ARE BEING TRIED IN ABSENTIA, FACE CHARGES RANGING FROM THEFT TO MURDER IN ONE OF THE BIGGEST MAFIA TRIALS IN YEARS.

MAFIA IS A SECRET CRIMINAL ORGANISATION WHICH STARTED IN SICILY, ITALY, BUT IS READ ALL OVER THE WORLD, ESPECIALLY TO COUNTRIES WHERE THERE WERE LARGE COLONIES OF ITALIAN IMMIGRANTS. THE CATANZARO TRIAL FOLLOWS THE DEATH OF THE MAFIA LEADER "LUCKY" LUCIANO IN 1962 AND THE SUBSEQUENT STRUGGLE FOR POWER BETWEEN TWO RIVAL FACTIONS.

THE STRUGGLE CULMINATED IN THE BLOWING-UP OF A CAR CONTAINING SEVEN POLICEMEN IN 1963 -- AN ACT WHICH PROVOVOKED ONE OF THE BIGGEST POLICE SWOOPS IN SICILIAN HISTORY. HUNDREDS OF MAFIA SUSPECTS WERE ROUNDED UP, AND THE CURRENT TRIAL IS THE RESULT.

A SPECIAL FORCE OF 120 POLICE MEN IS STANDING BY IN CATANZARO TO KEEP ORDER DURING THE TRIAL. SOME 38 OF THE ACCUSED ARE BEING TRIED IN THEIR ABSENCE. ALTHOUGH MAFIA ACTIVITY IS SAID TO HAVE DIED DOWN SOMEWHAT IN RECENT YEARS. ITALIAN OFFICIALS SAY THE CAMPAIGN TO STAMP IT OUT COMPLETELY WILL BE A LONG AND TOUGH JOB.