Prime Minister fires 'Mafia minister' Siri

 ROME -- Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte dismissed Transport Undersecretary Armando Siri from the Cabinet following his investigation for allegedly taking a bribe from a businessman linked to the Sicilian Mafia in return for introducing legislation favaourable to the Cosa Nostra, Palazzo Chigi sources said.

 Conte announced the dismissal of the League politician during a tense cabinet meeting that climaxed tension between the two main government coalition partners, the radical Five Star Movement and the League headed by Matteo Salvini who fought a rearguard action to try and prevent Siri being canned.

 jp