Italy foreign minister resigns over return of marines to India

ROME (AFP) - Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said on Tuesday that he was resigning from his post in protest over the return of two Italian marines to India to face murder charges.

"I resign in contention with the decision to send the marines back to Italy. The misgivings I expressed had no effect on the decision taken," he told parliament.

"I am resigning because for 40 years I have maintained, and still maintain, that the reputation of the country, the armed forces and Italian diplomacy, should be safeguarded," he said.

The Italian government sent Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, accused of shooting dead two fishermen off the coast of the southwestern Indian state of Kerala, back to New Delhi on Friday, having previously opposed the trial in India.

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