Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been placed under investigation over a government decision to release a Libyan police officer wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Here is the background to the case and a look at what might happen next.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy announced on Tuesday that she was being investigated by Italian prosecutors for her alleged role in aiding and abetting the release last week of a Libyan official wanted on war crimes charges.

Meloni described the probe as 'clearly a deliberate act' and that the prosecutor who passed on the complaint to the court was 'not normal'.

Italy released Osama Elmasry Njeem on a technicality after he was arrested on a warrant from the International Criminal Court accusing him of war crimes.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni says that Rome prosecutors have opened an investigation against her and two government ministers for repatriating a Libyan warlord wanted by the International Criminal Court in the Hague.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday she had been placed under judicial investigation following a government decision to release a Libyan police officer wanted by the International Criminal Court.

Osama Elmasry Njeem is suspected of crimes against humanity including murder, torture, rape and sexual violence as a prison overseer in Tripoli.

Italy’s prime minister has addressed growing criticism of the repatriation of a Libyan warlord wanted by the International Criminal Court.

Prosecutors are looking into how Osama Najim, a militiaman under an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court, was allowed to return to Libya.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is facing a probe into her government's decision to repatriate a Libyan general wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity and war crimes.