India told Italy marines do not face death sentence: Minister

ROME (AFP) - Italy is sending two marines to India to stand trial for murder after assurances they would not face capital punishment, Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said in an interview on Friday, March 22.

"It is our view that there are no longer the concerns that we had before," Mr Terzi told La Repubblica daily, a day after the government said they were being sent back in a surprise move.

"The agreement with India is that the case does not include any possibility of the maximum punishment being applied," Mr Terzi said.

He also said they would be assured "conditions for daily life in the country", without elaborating.