The editor of Italy's biggest-selling daily newspaper resigned today amid suggestions that he had upset prime minister Mr Silvio Berlusconi.
The owners of the paper, RCS MediaGroup, gave no explanation for the departure from the Milan-based Corriere della Seraof Mr Ferruccio de Bortoli after six years in the editor's chair. He is to be replaced by columnist Mr Stefano Folli.
The newspaper reported today that he had sent a letter of "irrevocable" resignation to shareholders controlling RCS MediaGroup.
The resignation of Mr de Bortoli had been expected for some days and has raised questions on the political left about the freedom of the press. Staff on the paper also expressed worries.
A monthly magazine claimed Mr Berlusconi nursed a grudge against Mr de Bortoli for, among other things, opposing the US-led war in Iraq that the centre-right government of Mr Berlusconi backed.
Competing newspaper La Repubblicanoted that under Mr de Bortoli, Corriere della Serahad opposed the war in Iraq. The right-wing government headed by Mr Berlusconi had supported military action.
Debate in Italy on freedom of the press is in the forefront in part because Mr Berlusconi owns the main private broadcasting group Mediaset, which competes with the state broadcaster RAI over which the government can also exercise some influence.
AFP