General Franco Angioni, a soldier and politician who led the Italian contingent in Lebanon during the 1980s, passed away at the age of 91. He became recognized for a role he played during the First Lebanese War, and after the Sabra and Shatila massacre in Beirut, he was picked to lead the Italian contingent of the Multinational Force. The intervention in Lebanon served as a precedent for subsequent Italian missions abroad. After retiring from the military, Angioni was named government commissioner for assistance to Albania, which had descended into chaos following the collapse of the pyramid schemes. In 2001, he made an unusual step for a paratrooper: he ran as an independent MP on the Democrats of the Left list, heirs to the Italian Communist Party. "A charismatic and military figure with an unmistakable command style", said yesterday's minister, Guido Crosetto. "Angioni leaves an example that will continue to inspire future generations, distinguishing himself for his ability to combine operational rigor and human sensitivity".