Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has decided not to extradite an Italian former left-wing militant who has been a fugitive for three decades. Cesare Battisti was convicted in absentia of murdering four people in Italy in the 1970s during a series of left-wing kidnappings and killings. The 56-year-old has been on the run since escaping from an Italian jail in 1981 while awaiting trial. He spent the intervening years in France-where he started a career as novelist- Mexico and finally Brazil. Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim said the President's decision did not represent an affront from one country to another. However, Italy's defence minister said it was unjust and seriously offensive.