Talks between the Indian and Italian officials over the killing of two Kerala fishermen ended on Friday with the Indian side remaining firm on its demand for a due course of law in the case.

A spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said the law of the land will be followed in dealing with the two Italian marines who are alleged to have killed the fishermen.

Italy will now send its Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi to India on Tuesday to avert a diplomatic standoff between the two countries.

A Kerala court on Thursday extended by one week the police custody of marines, Latorre Massimillano and Salvatore Girone, arrested for the killing.

Italy has offered to cooperate, but said the weapons of the two arrested marines should be examined in their presence and underlined that the vessel was in international waters.

Italy’s Deputy Foreign Minister Staffan de Mistura, who is in India, voiced appreciation at the way the two marines were being treated, but there was no end to the unprecedented diplomatic row between Rome and Delhi.