ROME Umberto Bossi, the Northern League leader, has backed off a bit from his call for secession for the Italian north. Bossi in the past has declared independence for what he calls Padania, roughly the region north of the Po River. But Italian newspapers on Sunday quoted him as saying: Padania doesn't necessarily mean secession. Padania means having local representatives in institutions, Bossi added, apparently referring to previous calls by the party for more regional autonomy.

Opinion polls have shown that the vast majority of Bossi's backers opposes attempts to split the relatively affluent north from the rest of the country but does want lower taxes and more accountability from the central government in Rome. Asked if the league was changing, Bossi replied: It's like a haircut the shape changes but the substance doesn't. But Bossi seemed to want to hold on to his image of his imaginary state called Padania. Chatting with reporters, Bossi went on to add that Padania's provisional government would take office on Sept. 13.

Then he added: In 2000, the presidents of the regions of the north will launch autonomy to region. (AP)