BEIJING, March 27 (Xinhuanet) -- Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi has resigned. He made the surprise announcement Tuesday in Parliament, saying he did not agree with last week’s decision to send two Italian marines back to India to face trial for murder.

Terzi said he was stepping down in solidarity with the Italian marines, because his decision to keep them in Italy had been overruled. The decision to send the marines back for trial was made Friday after India prevented the Italian ambassador from leaving the country.

The marines will be tried for the murder of two Indian fisherman, who were killed during anti-piracy operations on a commercial tanker in February 2012. The Italian government said it had received written assurances from India that the marines’ rights would be respected.

(Source: CNTV.cn)