Thirty years on, terror killing of Italian leader shrouded in mystery

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2008

ROME (AFP) — Thirty years after Italy's Red Brigades kidnapped and killed Christian Democrat leader Aldo Moro, dark shadows hang over the government's role during his detention as allegations linger that the politician was sacrificed.

At 9:00 a.m. on March 16, 1978, Moro set off for the Chamber of Deputies which was about to inaugurate the new Christian Democratic prime minister, Giulio Andreotti.

Moro, who negotiated the historic but controversial accord under which the communist party supported the Christian Democratic government for the first time, never arrived.

Instead, a commando of the communist Red Brigades stopped his convoy, killed his five bodyguards and whisked him away.

Italy held its breath for the next 55 days, while the far left...