New Delhi, March 19
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi today blasted Italy for refusing to send back the two marines to face trial for the murder of two Indian fishermen, even as Rome claimed that the Supreme Court order to bar the Italian envoy from leaving the country represented an evident violation the diplomatic immunity law.

“The defiance of the Italian Government on the question of the two marines and its betrayal of a commitment to our Supreme Court is outright unacceptable,” Gandhi said, addressing a meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party.

Gandhi, the chairperson of the ruling UPA, said, “No country can, should, or will be allowed to take India for granted. All means must be pursued to ensure that the commitment made by the Italian Government to our Supreme Court is honoured.”

The Italian Foreign Ministry said Rome believed that the case of the two marines should be resolved in accordance with international law. “To this end, we have proposed that settlement of the case be submitted to arbitration or to another judicial mechanism.”

Italy said it hoped to find a solution to the dispute in the spirit of the friendly relations it wished to maintain with India.

In another development, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed the hope that India and Italy would resolve their standoff over the marines’ issue constructively and in compliance with their international obligations.

"The Secretary-General hopes and expects Italy and India to resolve this matter constructively, and in compliance with their international obligations," a statement said.