Defence min denies Russian ships violating Italian waters

(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 31 - The defence ministry on Monday denied media reports that Russian ships were violating Italian waters by sailing through the Sicilian Channel.
    It said the formation was sailing through international waters and NATO had been following the path of the naval group since it set out in mid-January from the ports of Severomorsk (North Fleet) and Baltijsk (Baltic Fleet).
    NATO is continuing to monitor the flotilla, defence chiefs of staff said.
    "Neither NATO forces nor the Russian naval formation have shown escalatary behaviour or intentions," they said. (ANSA).