ROME (Reuters) - The editor of an Italian newspaper was re-arrested on Saturday, police said, after he intentionally violated the terms of his house detention to draw attention to the issue of press freedom. <\/p>\n
Alessandro Sallusti, editor-in-chief of Il Giornale, a newspaper owned by the family of former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, was sentenced to 14 months in September for a libellous article in 2007, when he was at another newspaper. <\/p>\n
His case has become a cause celebre in the media because parliament had been considering a law that would have toughened jail sentences and sanctions for journalists convicted of libel. <\/p>\n
Sallusti said he intentionally violated the terms of his house arrest when he left his home to bring attention to continuing dangers to press freedom. <\/p>\n
He said he wanted to make a \"political provocation\". <\/p>\n
He was later returned to house arrest and faces a new trial for evading custody. <\/p>\n
Italian journalists had scheduled a one-day strike last week but called it off after receiving assurances that the law would be modified. <\/p>\n
(This story was corrected to make clear Senate did not approve the law) <\/p>\n
(Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Sophie Hares) <\/p>\n
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Detained Italy editor "escapes" to push for press freedom<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" ROME (Reuters) - The editor of an Italian newspaper was re-arrested on Saturday, police said, after he intentionally violated the terms of his house detention to draw attention to the issue of press freedom. Continue reading