Marines: India 'aware' arbitration plea

(ANSA) - New Delhi, June 29 - India said Monday it "is aware" of the request by Italy for international arbitration in the dispute over two Italian marines accused of shooting and killing two Indian fishermen in 2012.
    Indian government lawyers "are examining" the request to use an international arbiter to find an end to the 40-month stand-off over marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone, said Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup.
    Italy is believed to have informed India Friday of the request as envisaged under the terms of the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea agreement, which was signed by both Italy and India.
    Latorre currently is in Italy while Girone is living in the Italian Embassy in Delhi.
    The Indian Supreme Court arranged to hold a hearing to examine the charges against the two July 14, one day before the expiry of the last permit granted to Latorre for treatment for a stroke he suffered in August last year.