Eight executives from Parmalat and an auditing company have been arrested in connection with the collapse of the food giant, which employs more than 36,000 people in 30 countries. Italian magistrates have also issued an arrest warrant targeting the former head of Parmalat Venezuela, Giovanni Bonici, who is in the South American country. In a telephone interview with Il Sole 24 Ore, Bonici said he planned to step down from the company and return to Italy next week to face charges. "I have not run away. I am here (in Venezuela) to settle some work issues. For me, the sooner I can talk with the magistrates the better," Bonici was quoted as saying in the paper. Meanwhile, a British newspaper report said Italian magistrates and the US stock exchange watchdog are examining the role of the US banking giants that provided financing to Parmalat over the past years.