Fishermen killing: India move to jail sailors unacceptable, says Italy

Posted on: 06 Mar 2012

Italy said on Monday it was very concerned over what it called an 'unacceptable' decision by Indian authorities to jail two Italian marines who had been held in a police-guarded guest house for allegedly shooting two fishermen. The Kerala police detained Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone in the southern Indian coastal town of Kochi on Feb 20, igniting a diplomatic dispute that has escalated.

The two marines were assigned to protect the Italian merchant vessel Enrica Lexie, which was sailing off the Indian coast when they opened fire to avert what they thought was a pirate attack.

Italy's foreign ministry director-general Giampiero Massolo spoke to the Indian Embassy's charge d'affaires, Saurabh Kumar, to express 'very real concern' about the decision to transfer the two to the prison in Trivandrum, a ministry statement said.

The Italian government considered 'such measures unacceptable given the status of the servicemen' and asked that the two sailors be transferred to a more 'adequate' structure, it said.

Italy insists that India has no jurisdiction over the incident, which occurred in international waters.

Italy's foreign minister Giulio Terzi argues that, since the marines were aboard an Italian vessel, any investigation or trial should be conducted by Italy according to longstanding international rules governing the high seas.

Italy began assigning military teams to protect its merchant vessels in the Indian Ocean last year after a series of attacks by Somali pirates on Italian ships.

Pirates operating in small fishing vessels and fast motorboats have hijacked dozens of ships in the region in recent years, extracting millions of dollars in ransom.Reuters

Fishermen killing: India move to jail sailors unacceptable, says Italy

Posted on: 06 Mar 2012

Italy said on Monday it was very concerned over what it called an 'unacceptable' decision by Indian authorities to jail two Italian marines who had been held in a police-guarded guest house for allegedly shooting two fishermen. The Kerala police detained Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone in the southern Indian coastal town of Kochi on Feb 20, igniting a diplomatic dispute that has escalated.

The two marines were assigned to protect the Italian merchant vessel Enrica Lexie, which was sailing off the Indian coast when they opened fire to avert what they thought was a pirate attack.

Italy's foreign ministry director-general Giampiero Massolo spoke to the Indian Embassy's charge d'affaires, Saurabh Kumar, to express 'very real concern' about the decision to transfer the two to the prison in Trivandrum, a ministry statement said.

The Italian government considered 'such measures unacceptable given the status of the servicemen' and asked that the two sailors be transferred to a more 'adequate' structure, it said.

Italy insists that India has no jurisdiction over the incident, which occurred in international waters.

Italy's foreign minister Giulio Terzi argues that, since the marines were aboard an Italian vessel, any investigation or trial should be conducted by Italy according to longstanding international rules governing the high seas.

Italy began assigning military teams to protect its merchant vessels in the Indian Ocean last year after a series of attacks by Somali pirates on Italian ships.

Pirates operating in small fishing vessels and fast motorboats have hijacked dozens of ships in the region in recent years, extracting millions of dollars in ransom.Reuters

BJP, SP gain, BSP set to be routed in UP

Posted on: 06 Mar 2012

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh's ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) seemed headed for a rout as early voting trends showed dramatic gains for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Samajwadi Party.

BJP and Samajwadi Party candidates were leading in 27 and 23 seats respectively as voting trends became known from 73 of the 403 assembly constituencies.

Both BJP and Samajwadi Party were surging at the cost of the BSP, which led only in eight seats and trailing in over 20. The Congress, tipped to finish fourth, was on the victory lap in nine seats.

Smaller parties were in the lead in six seats.

Staggered balloting in Uttar Pradesh took place between Feb 8 and March 3.

UTTAR PRADESH
Party	Seats (lead/win)
SP	193
BSP	103
INC	47
BJP	52
Others	8
Total	403 / 403

PUNJAB
Party	Seats (lead/win)
SAD+BJP	61
INC	53
PPP	0
BSP	1
Others	2
Total	117 / 117

UTTARAKHAND
Party	Seats (lead/win)
INC	31
BJP	28
BSP	6
SP	0
Others	5
Total	70 / 70

MANIPUR
Party	Seats (lead/win)
INC	29
BJP	0
PDF	2
NPF	4
Others	5
Total	40 / 60

GOA
Party	Seats (lead/win)
BJP	17
INC	8
TMC
UGDP	2
Others	2
Total	29 / 40

BJP, SP gain, BSP set to be routed in UP

Posted on: 06 Mar 2012

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh's ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) seemed headed for a rout as early voting trends showed dramatic gains for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Samajwadi Party.

BJP and Samajwadi Party candidates were leading in 27 and 23 seats respectively as voting trends became known from 73 of the 403 assembly constituencies.

Both BJP and Samajwadi Party were surging at the cost of the BSP, which led only in eight seats and trailing in over 20. The Congress, tipped to finish fourth, was on the victory lap in nine seats.

Smaller parties were in the lead in six seats.

Staggered balloting in Uttar Pradesh took place between Feb 8 and March 3.

UTTAR PRADESH
Party	Seats (lead/win)
SP	193
BSP	103
INC	47
BJP	52
Others	8
Total	403 / 403

PUNJAB
Party	Seats (lead/win)
SAD+BJP	61
INC	53
PPP	0
BSP	1
Others	2
Total	117 / 117

UTTARAKHAND
Party	Seats (lead/win)
INC	31
BJP	28
BSP	6
SP	0
Others	5
Total	70 / 70

MANIPUR
Party	Seats (lead/win)
INC	29
BJP	0
PDF	2
NPF	4
Others	5
Total	40 / 60

GOA
Party	Seats (lead/win)
BJP	17
INC	8
TMC
UGDP	2
Others	2
Total	29 / 40