Italy says will send its marines back to India for trial

ROME (AFP) - Italy said two marines on trial for murder in India would return to the country by Friday, in a stunning turnaround after Rome earlier unleashed a diplomatic furore by saying they would not go back.

The two, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, had been granted a special leave last month by an Indian court to return to Italy to vote in elections but had skipped bail.

The government said on Thursday that it had received "ample assurances" from Indian authorities "on the treatment that the marines will receive and the defence of their fundamental rights".

"The government decided, also in the interests of the marines, to maintain the commitment taken when they were granted leave to take part in the elections to return to India by March 22," it said.