  The paper proposes a new knowledge representation language, called DLP<,
which extends disjunctive logic programming (with strong negation) by
inheritance. The addition of inheritance enhances the knowledge modeling
features of the language providing a natural representation of default
reasoning with exceptions.
  A declarative model-theoretic semantics of DLP< is provided, which is shown
to generalize the Answer Set Semantics of disjunctive logic programs.
  The knowledge modeling features of the language are illustrated by encoding
classical nonmonotonic problems in DLP<.
  The complexity of DLP< is analyzed, proving that inheritance does not cause
any computational overhead, as reasoning in DLP< has exactly the same
complexity as reasoning in disjunctive logic programming. This is confirmed by
the existence of an efficient translation from DLP< to plain disjunctive logic
programming. Using this translation, an advanced KR system supporting the DLP<
language has been implemented on top of the DLV system and has subsequently
been integrated into DLV.
