Hunt on for politician's axe killer

Police are searching for the killer of a candidate in local elections in the southern Italian town of Pompeii after his headless body was found two days after he disappeared on his way to work.

Carlo Cirillo was running for a seat on the council in Pompeii – the small town which flanks the archaeological park of the ancient city’s ruins.

Local polls across Italy will be held June 12-13, the same days as balloting for the European Parliament.

Cirillo, 43, disappeared after he left home for his job in a pharmaceutical company in the nearby town of Torre Annunziata.

His wife then plastered posters with his photo locally and on highway toll booths in hope someone had seen him.

Italian state TV said his body was found near a highway outside the southern town of Aversa Wednesday night. The report said it appeared his head had been lopped off with an axe or hatchet.

The victim was running as part of a coalition of parties from the left and centre, including Communists, Christian Democrats and Greens.

News reports said there no immediate indication that the killing was linked to the victims’ politics or to organised crime.

The Camorra crime syndicate operates in the Naples area which includes the towns around Mount Vesuvius.