Rome reaffirms refusal to send witnesses in marines case

Rome, Aug 23 (IANS/AKI) Italy has reiterated its refusal to send four Italian marines to India for questioning by prosecutors investigating two of their colleagues for murder.

"We not do rule out cooperation via rogatory or written questioning," Italy's Minister for Foreign Affairs Emma Bonino told Rai1 public radio, echoing comments made to the station Wednesday by Italy's Minister of Defence Mario Mauro.

Mauro had suggested that Indian prosecutors could interview in Italy or via video link the witnesses to the fatal shootings of two fishermen off the coast of south Indian state of Kerala last year by their colleagues Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre while the marines were guarding an oil-tanker.

Bonino, who recently discussed the case with her Indian counterpart Salman Khurshid, said it was "possible" that the Indian investigation would be completed without the interrogations of the four witnesses.

"We just have to hope for and work towards the timely completion of the investigation and the start of the trial," Bonino stated said in the radio programme broadcast Thursday.

She said she would Friday hold talks on the case with Italy's Prime Minister Enrico Letta and other top government officials.

Girone and Latorre say they mistook the unarmed fishermen for pirates.

Italy claimed the February 2012 incident took place in international waters, meaning India should not have jurisdiction over the case, which was at the centre of a diplomatic row between the two countries earlier this year.