Italian Ship's Military Security Guards Bailed by Indian Court

Indian court grants bail to two Italian marines at center of diplomatic row

According to Reuters an Indian court has granted bail to two Italian marines charged with the murder of two Indian fishermen in a case that has caused a major diplomatic rift between Rome and New Delhi.

The two marines, Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, were ordered not to leave the port city of Kochi, in the western state of Kerala, while awaiting trial. They will be freed once they each pay bail of 10 million rupees, about $200,000. No date has been set for trial but it is expected to start soon.

The sailors were part of a military security team protecting the cargo ship Enrica Lexie from pirate attacks when they opened fire on the fishermen's boat off the coast of Kerala on Feb. 15. Italian officials say the men mistook the fishermen for pirates.