Rome, Apr 12 (BDNEWS) - The man considered to be the head of the Sicilian Mafia, Bernardo Provenzano, has been arrested after more than four decades on the run.
Italian police said 73-year-old Provenzano, deemed the country's most wanted man, was arrested near his home town of Corleone in Sicily.
He was sentenced in his absence to life in prison for a string of murders, report wire services.
Police believe he took over command of the Mafia after the 1993 arrest of ex-boss Salvatore "Toto" Riina.
Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi expressed his delight over the arrest to Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu, a statement from the presidential palace said.
Italy's anti-mafia prosecutor Piero Grasso said police tracked him down by following a package of clean laundry delivered to his hideout.
BDNEWS/1111 hrs.
