Italian ex-president Leone dies

ROME, Italy -- Former Italian president Giovanni Leone, who was forced to leave office over a bribery scandal in 1978, has died at the age of 93.

His family said Leone, who was elected as a compromise candidate after one of the longest, stormiest and closest election since World War II, died on Friday.

A prominent Christian Democrat, Leone became president in 1971. He resigned six months before the end of his seven-year term amid allegations of involvement in a major payoff scandal, which involved the U.S. aircraft manufacturer Lockheed.

Leone at the time called the unproven allegations against him "slanderous," but said the scandal had weakened his political clout. He said he was resigning in the interest of democratic stability.

Born in Naples in 1908, Leone was also a prominent criminal lawyer and a university professor. He took part in the assembly that drafted Italy's constitution in the aftermath of World War II.

First elected to parliament in 1948, Leone also served as caretaker prime minister and Chamber speaker.

He is survived by his wife Vittoria Michitto, and his three sons, Mauro, Paolo and Giancarlo. Funeral arrangements were not immediately available.