Two Italian soldiers appeared before a judge in India yesterday on charges of shooting dead two fishermen, who were mistaken for pirates trying to attack an oil tanker.
A magistrate in the town of Kollam remanded Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone in custody for two weeks over the incident on Wednesday off the southern Indian state of Kerala.
The two Italians, who were deployed on the ship to protect it against the growing threat from pirates in the Indian Ocean, were escorted off the tanker and arrested on Sunday evening to face murder charges.
Italian authorities insist the men should not be prosecuted in India as the tanker, the Enrica Lexie, was flying under an Italian flag in international waters when the shooting occurred.
Rome's foreign minister, Giulio Terzi, yesterday warned of "considerable differences" with India over the shooting as the tanker sailed on a course from Singapore heading to Egypt.
But, India has protested fiercely against the deaths of the unarmed men and said that the suspects must face justice in local courts.
"Our waterfront is not infested by pirates. So, it is an unpardonable crime to shoot innocent fishermen thinking they are pirates," Indian Shipping Minister GK Vasan said.
AFP