Italy blames badly drafted ICC warrant for Libyan suspect's release

ROME: Justice minister Carlo Nordio on Wednesday defended Italy's release of a Libyan war crimes suspect, saying the international criminal Court (ICC) warrant for his arrest had been poorly written.

Osama Almasri Najim, the head of Libya's judicial police, was arrested in Turin on January 19 on an ICC warrant, only to be released and flown home to Tripoli two days later on an Italian air force plane.

Opposition parties have denounced the decision to free a man wanted on charges including murder, rape and torture relating to his management of Tripoli's Mitiga detention centre.

Nordio told parliament Wednesday that Najim had been arrested on a warrant "that I do not hesitate to define as characterised by inaccuracies, omissions, discrepancies and contradictory conclusions".

Prime minister Giorgia Meloni revealed last week that she, Nordio and interior minister Matteo Piantedosi were under investigation over the case.

A complaint had been made to a Rome prosecutor, who passed it onto the special court that considers cases against ministers.