Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister
Antonio Tajani said Monday that probing Prime Minister Giorgia
Meloni and other government members over the case of Libyan
general Osama Almasri was ridiculous and damaged Italy's
reputation.
Speaking on the sidelines of an international Summit on
Children's Rights at the Vatican, Tajani said he though it was
"ridiculous" to probe Meloni, Justice Minister Carlo Nordio,
Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and cabinet secretary with
the intelligence brief Alfredo Mantovano.
"It is a ridiculous thing that damages Italy's image in the
world, I think we must take care of more important things, not
only this case, but think about growth, think about what we must
do to give work and to make our workers richer", he said on the
sidelines of the summit, where he gave a speech on the fight
against human traffickers.
Meloni said last month that she had received notice of
investigation, together with the three other cabinet members,
over Libyan judicial police commander Almasri, wanted for war
crimes and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal
Court (ICC) and arrested in Italy, released on a technicality,
and flown back to Tripoli to a hero's welcome aboard an Italian
secret service plane.
On Monday, one of Almasri's alleged victims, Lam Magok Biel
Ruei, also filed a criminal complaint to the Rome prosecutor's
office, alleging Meloni, Nordio and Piantedosi aided and abetted
the suspected war criminal.
The alleged victim, Lam Magok Biel Ruei, filed the complaint
claiming the government officials "helped the Libyan torturer
evade justice", which was drafted by attorney Francesco Romeo.
Tajani also said Monday that the interior minister had already
reported to Parliament on the case once and the government would
address the Lower House and Senate again but it was "up to the
executive to decide who goes, not the opposition".
Lower House sessions were suspended last week until Tuesday,
February 4, as members of the centre-left opposition have
repeatedly demanded an explanation over who will be reporting to
Parliament after Nordio and Piantedosi failed to address the
House when they receiving notice of the first criminal
complaint.
"Italy's image is damaged if magistrates notify of an
investigation the premier, two ministers, a cabinet secretary",
noted Tajani, adding the time had come to "take care of other
things".
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