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Obituary

WWII resistance fighter dies at 81

By wire services
Published January 5, 2006

ROME - Urbano Lazzaro, a resistance fighter credited with arresting fascist dictator Benito Mussolini at the end of World War II, has died at age 81, officials said Wednesday.

Mr. Lazzaro died Tuesday (Jan. 3, 2006) after being hospitalized in Vercelli, a town between Milan and Turin, the Associated Press reported, quoting officials at St. Andrea hospital.

Mr. Lazzaro, known to his comrades as "Partisan Bill," fought with a communist resistance group in northern Italy, Italy's National Partisan Association said.

In April 1945, with Nazi forces in full retreat and Italians rising up against the fascist puppet state of Salo, Mussolini fled north in a German convoy.

Mr. Lazzaro was among a group of resistance fighters who stopped the retreating convoy near Dongo, on the shores of Lake Como. On the lookout for fleeing fascists, the partisans searched the trucks and Mr. Lazzaro recognized "Il Duce" disguised as a German soldier.

Mussolini and his mistress, Claretta Petacci, were executed after a summary trial, although the details of the dictator's demise are often a matter of debate in Italy. Mr. Lazzaro eventually wrote books on those final hours, challenging the official story by claiming Mussolini was killed by mistake during an escape attempt, news reports have said.

After the war, Lazzaro married and had three daughters who survive him, the ANSA news agency said. He divided his time between San Germano, near Vercelli, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. A funeral will be held today in San Germano, ANSA said.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - Sheik Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai and one of the world's foremost owners and breeders of thoroughbred horses, died Wednesday (Jan. 4, 2006) in Australia. He was 62.

Sheik Maktoum, who was also prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, was succeeded by his younger brother, Crown Prince Sheik Mohammed, the defense minister of the UAE, a federation of seven Gulf states.

Sheik Maktoum, visiting Australia for the prestigious Magic Millions yearling sales, died at the exclusive Palazzo Versace hotel on Australia's Gold Coast, police said.

Authorities in Dubai would not give the cause of death.

Working with another brother, Sheik Hamdan, the Maktoum family put Dubai on the world racing map. The brothers founded Dubai- and British-based Godolphin Racing Inc., one of the world's most successful stables, and created the Dubai World Cup, the world's richest race with a $6-million purse.

Sheik Maktoum owned Gainsborough Stud Management, with one farm in Kentucky, another in England and two in Ireland. At stud at Gainsborough Stud at Newbury in southeast England are Elusive Quality and Quiet American, sires of Kentucky Derby winners Smarty Jones and Real Quiet.

Dubai declared 40 days of mourning, with government offices shutting down for seven days beginning Wednesday. Authorities said the funeral would be today.

[Last modified January 5, 2006, 01:19:08]