Monti speaks to PM over fishermen killing row

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the row over killing of two fishermen allegedly by two Italian marines and agreed that the issue should be resolved amicably in accordance with law.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti on Wednesday spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the row over killing of two fishermen allegedly by two Italian marines and agreed that the issue should be resolved amicably in accordance with law.

In a press statement tonight, the Prime Minister's Office said both the leaders spoke about the tragic incident off the coast of Kerala last month which led to the loss of two lives.

The Italian Prime Minister condoled the deaths of the two fishermen and expressed regret at the incident, the PMO said.

Jelastine and Ajesh Binki, the two fishermen, were allegedly shot dead by the two Italian marine guards off the Kollam coast on February 15, suspecting them to be pirates.

"The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of deepening relations between India and Italy and agreed that the issues that had arisen following the incident should be resolved amicably in accordance with law and in the spirit of friendship that characterises relations between the two countries," it said.

The two leaders said that they were looking forward to meeting each other at the forthcoming Nuclear Security Summit in Seoul.