Sicily's governor quits after Mafia case conviction

The governor of Sicily resigned today after coming under growing pressure following his conviction and five-year prison sentence for providing information that helped a Mafia boss.

Salvatore Cuffaro told the island’s regional assembly that his decision to leave office was “irrevocable”.

Last week, a court in Palermo convicted him of “aiding and abetting” by helping a mob boss.

Prosecutors alleged that the mobster was able to discover that police had hidden microphones in the home of the boss thanks to information Cuffaro told a mutual acquaintance.

The governor insisted he never did anything to help the Mafia.

Cuffaro is from a small, pro-Vatican party which is a political ally of conservative opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi.