India has put forward certain conditions to allow the return of Italian marine Salvatore Girone to Italy. India told the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague at a hearing that it is prepared to allow the marine to go back to Italy if certain conditions are met. Earlier, India had strongly objected to allow the marine to leave. Both the countries have been making frantic efforts to resolve the crisis in this connection.

India has said that Girone must surrender his passport to the Italian authorities and must not leave Italy.

Girone and Massimiliano Latorre were accused of shooting dead two fishermen off the coast of Kerala in February 2012, and a long-drawn-out legal and diplomatic battle between India and Italy since then has dragged ties to their lowest. Latorre is already in Italy, allowed by the Supreme Court, where he is recovering from a brain tumour.

Italy Prez says committed to resolve marines issue with India

Rome: President Sergio Mattarella today reaffirmed Italy's "commitment" to resolve the four-year dispute involving two Italian marines accused of murdering two Indian fishermen.

"I express my closeness to Salvatore Girone and Massimiliano Latorre and I confirm the commitment to resolving a dispute that has dragged on for too long," Mattarella was quoted as saying by the Italian ANSA news agency.