Rome, March 11
Two Italian marines charged in India with killing two fishermen while on anti-piracy duty would not return there from a home visit granted to allow them to vote in last month's election, the Italian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

The ministry said India had not responded to Italian requests to seek a diplomatic solution to the case and there was now a formal dispute between the two countries over the terms of the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea.

"Italy has informed the Indian Government that, given the formal initiation of an international dispute between the two states, the marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone will not return to India at the end of their home leave."

The two sailors, part of a military security team protecting the tanker Enrica Lexie, were accused of shooting the two fishermen they say they mistook for pirates off Kerala in February last year.

The incident has caused a serious diplomatic dispute between Italy and India.

India's Supreme Court said in a long-awaited ruling in January that India had jurisdiction to try the marines but Italy has challenged that decision, arguing that the shooting took place in international waters.

The sailors arrived back in Italy on February 23, a day before the country's election, after India's Supreme Court granted their request to exercise their right to vote. — Reuters