Italy Tuesday summoned the Indian envoy in Rome to voice its "dismay" over the "unacceptable delay" in the trial of two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen.

 

 The  move comes as Italy also called its ambassador to India to Rome for "consultations" and to show Rome's bitterness at the handling of the case of the marines,  who have not been charged two years after the incident took place, Italian news agency ANSA reported.

 

 In  another development, European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton  warned India there could be "major consequences" after the Indian Supreme Court again delayed a decision on the marines.

 

  In New Delhi, the apex court, which was to set to rule on whether to  prosecute the marines on the basis of a harsh anti-terrorism law, asked the government to spell out its stand about the law under which the marines are to be tried.

 

  An apex court bench headed by Justice B.S. Chauhan asked the government to spell out its stand in writing by next Wednesday, when it would take up the matter for  further hearing.

 

 Indian Ambassador Basant Kumar Gupta was summoned by the Italian foreign ministry to  voice "dismay" at the "unacceptable delay" in trying Massimilliano Lattore and  Salvatore Girone who have been held in India since February 2012 when they  allegedly shot dead two Indian fishermen off the coast of the south Indian state of Kerala, mistaking them for pirates. 

 

 Italian Foreign Ministry  Secretary General Michele Valensise told Gupta the case "shows an Indian desire to draw out the affair beyond all limits",  according to ANSA.

 

 Italian  envoy to India Daniel Mancini has also been summoned to Rome. Foreign  Minister Emma Bonino called Mancini for "consultations" and to show Rome's  bitterness at the handling of the case.

 

 "This  measure is the limit and what's even bigger is the indignation that has hit the  whole nation and cannot fail to spread to the entire international community," said Defence Minister Mario Mauro. "There is no justice in this case. We are faced with ambiguous, unreliable behaviour on the part of the Indian  authorities."

 

 Latorre  and Girone are accused of killing fishermen Valentine (aka Gelastine) and Ajesh Binki after mistaking them for pirates. The  marines were serving as security personnel on an Italian oil tanker oil-tanker MT Enrica Lexie crossing the Indian Ocean.

 

 India  claims jurisdiction in the case while Italy alleges the incident took place in  international waters and the marines should be tried in their home country.