ROME - A man was detained after being caught illegally photographing his ballot paper at a voting station in Italy's election Sunday, the ANSA news agency reported.
A voting official caught the 28-year-old trying to photograph his voting paper with a mobile telephone at a polling station in the northern region of Udine. He called the police who seized the telephone and detained the man.
The Italian government passed a law banning mobile telephones and other photographic equipment in voting booths, ahead of the election.
In regions where the mafia has an influence on politics, there have been complaints that voters have photographed ballot papers as proof for criminals pressuring them to vote for a certain candidate.
The election on Sunday and Monday was called after the collapse of the centre-left government in January. It could see the billionaire conservative opposition leader Silvio Berlusconi elected to a third term as prime minister.
Those breaking the photography law face up to six months in prison and a fine of up to 1,000 euros (more than 1,500 dollars).
ljm/rlp/gk
04/13/2008 18:44 GMT