Italy contacted Germany over what to do with the body of Nazi war criminal Erich Priebke who has caused outrage even after his death in Rome at the age of 100 last week.
The furore comes at a particularly sensitive time, on the day that Italy commemorates the 70th anniversary of the decimation of Rome's historic Jewish community after a raid by Nazi troops.
"We are in contact with Germany," Rome's prefect Giuseppe Pecoraro told reporters yesterday.
German foreign ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer confirmed there had been "informal contacts" but no "official request from the Italian side" for the body to be sent back to Priebke's native land.
Schaefer said it was up to Priebke's family to decide what to do with the body, which is currently at a military airport near Rome.
Media reports said it would likely be kept there overnight.
Priebke's lawyer Paolo Giachini said the disposal of the remains was a problem for Italy alone.
"Italy wanted him, had him extradited, tried him, convicted him and kept him for years. Now let (Italy) keep the hot potato," he told AFP.
Under Italian law, decisions on what to do with the body have to be taken by direct heirs but the ANSA news agency reported that neither of Priebke's two sons had travelled to Italy or contacted Italian authorities about their wishes.
