Italian PM satisfied with marines' release from jail

June 03, 2012 00:37

Italy's Prime Minister Mario Monti expressed "great satisfaction" over the release on bail of two Italian marines accused of murdering Indian fishermen, but called for their return to Italy.

"I express my own and the government's great satisfaction for the liberation, under bail conditions, of our marines. An important objective has been reached," Monti said in a statement.

"But the final outcome, for which we have worked with determination since the start in our relations with Indian authorities of every level, is the return of our marines to Italy," he said.

Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, who shot dead two fishermen off India's southwestern coast on February 15, were freed on bail by Kochi High Court last week, and left jail on Saturday for a hotel.

The marines, who deny murder and say they mistook the fishermen for pirates, appeared in a court in Kerala on Saturday for a preliminary hearing in a case that has caused a diplomatic row.

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