Rome - Italian anger at Brazil's decision not to hand over a convicted murderer and former leftist terrorist intensified Tuesday and threatened to spill over onto the football pitch.

Foreign Minister Franco Frattini following talks with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi decided to recall Rome's ambassador to Brasilia Micele Valensise "for consultations," a Foreign Ministry statement said.

The move followed the "grave decision" on Monday by Brazil's top prosecutor to call for extradition proceedings against Cesare Battisti to be dropped, the statement said.

Sao Paulo - The World Social Forum is set to meet starting Tuesday in the northeastern Brazilian city of Belem, as the gathering gets renewed strength and meaning from the ongoing global financial and economic crisis.

This is the ninth edition of the forum, a self-declared "alternative" to the simultaneous World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Brasilia  - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva congratulated new US President Barack Obama on Wednesday, and expressed a call for "fluent and profitable" dialogue and a "renewed friendship" between the two countries.

Madrid  - Brazilian giants Palmeiras announced on Wednesday that they have signed veteran Edmilson from Spanish club Villarreal, for an undisclosed fee.

According to Brazilian website Globoesporte, Edmilson, 32, has agreed to a two-year contract with Palmeiras, who are coached by Vanderlei Luxemburgo.

Villarreal have still not confirmed the departure of the Brazilian defender-cum-midfielder.

Edmilson joined Villarreal from Barcelona in July 2008, but has hardly played for the club.

London,

Sao Paulo  - The collapse of the roof during services at a Pentecostal church Sunday night in Sao Paulo left at least seven people dead, authorities said.

The failure of the so-called structure left at least 40 people injured, some seriously, according to media reports in Brazil.

It was unclear how many people were in the so-called temple building at the time of the disaster. A church representative said that 60 people were in attendance at the worship service, while witnesses described at least 150 and rescue workers said it could have been as high as 500.