Italian journalist Franco Di Mare died today at the age of 68 due to complications from mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer.

Di Mare was one of Rai’s best-known journalists and had worked, among other things, as an envoy to the former Yugoslavia.

He had then presented a series of shows and served as director of the Rai Tre channel.

In recent statements he had referred to the causes of his illness, which he believed to be linked to exposure to depleted uranium and asbestos, mainly in the former Yugoslavia and Kosovo.

In his book he made a detailed reference to the “Balkan syndrome”.

The Italian journalist had covered major events from Algeria to Latin America and Japan, and had signed a series of award-winning investigations with exposés involving the mafia. On one of his missions he had met and managed to adopt Stella, a ten-month-old baby girl.

The Italian public television in its announcement emphasizes that “the death of Franco Di Mare causes great pain and sadness” and that “Rai expresses all its gratitude to him”.

In his latest televised interview with the private channel Nove, the acclaimed envoy, attached to a machine that allowed him to breathe, had expressed bitterness that, in the past, some Italian television executives had not responded effectively to his requests regarding the illness of.