Rome - Italian authorities appealed Wednesday to Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to "reverse" a decision which may help an imprisoned Italian leftist fugitive win status as a political refugee and avoid extradition.

Brazil's justice ministry said Tuesday that Cesare Battisti, who is wanted in Italy in connection with four killings in the 1970s, should be allowed to stay in Brazil because of evidence "based on the fear of persecution" if he is returned to Italy.

The decision appeared to contradict a ruling in November by Brazil's National Committee for Refugees, which recommended extradition.

On Wednesday, Italy's foreign ministry issued a statement urging Lula, in the name of "international cooperation in the fight against terrorism," to ensure that the November ruling was upheld.

Brazil's Supreme Court has the final say on whether Battisti is granted refugee status. The country's justice ministry did not say in its statement how long that process might take.

Battisti has been on the run from Italian authorities since 1981, when he escaped from prison while awaiting trial for four killings committed by the extremist group Armed Proletarians for Communism.

He fled to France and was subsequently tried in absentia for two of the murders and sentenced to life in prison.

In France, Battisti benefited from a policy introduced by then- president Francois Mitterand granting Italian leftists refuge. He embraced a new career as mystery writer.

However, sensing that France was reversing its asylum policy after spending some time in detention, Battisti disappeared in 2004. He re- emerged in Brazil, where he was arrested in March 2007 following a request from Interpol. (dpa)