December 28, 2003	Sunday	Ziqa’ad 4, 1424

ROME, Dec 27: Romano Prodi, the head of the European Union’s executive commission, escaped unharmed Saturday when he opened a booby-trapped parcel, the Italian news agency ANSA said, quoting his spokesman.

The parcel, which caught fire when Prodi opened it, was sent to his home in Bologna, northern Italy, the spokesman said.

Mr Prodi served as Italian prime minister from 1996 to 1998 and is widely seen as preparing a comeback in domestic politics.—AFP