
The release and return to the Libyan capital, Tripoli, of Nizem Ozama Elmasri Habis, head of the Libyan judicial police, caused a strong reaction from the Italian opposition.
Elmasri was arrested last Sunday in Turin, where he had gone to watch a football match, on the basis of an arrest warrant issued by the International Court of Justice in The Hague for "crimes against humanity."
As Italian media report, while he is charged with torture, he continues to inspect the centers where irregular migrants are held in Libya.
His arrest was not ratified after the judge in charge was not given the necessary "green light" by the Italian Minister of Justice, Carlo Nordio.
As reported by private television La7, Elmasri was deported and returned to Tripoli on an Italian Falcon aircraft.
Opposition representatives (from the Democratic Party in Italy of Values and the alliance of Environmentalists and the Italian Left) underlined that the government must provide an immediate explanation and that this is a completely wrong, political choice.
"How is it possible for a war criminal to go unhindered to our country's stadium? It's unimaginable," stressed the executive of the "democrats", Paolo Ciani.
In his brief statement, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stressed that the entire case was procedurally flawed, as the International Court of Justice in The Hague failed to properly notify his colleague Carlo Nordio in a timely manner. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piandendozzi is expected to brief parliament on the matter on Thursday.