Libya sorry for shooting Italian fishing boat

Tripoli, 16 Sept-(ANA)-Libya has apologised to Italy after one of its patrol boats fired machine-gun shots at a Sicilian fishing trawler.

The trawler returned to Sicily on Sunday pock-marked with bullet holes. None of its 10 crew were injured.

The patrol boat was one of six supplied by Italy to Libya to help prevent migrants crossing the Mediterranean.

Italian ministers called the incident "serious", but said it was a mistake and would not affect relations between the two countries.

Several Italian military personnel were on board the patrol boat providing technical assistance to the Libyans, according to Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni. (ANA)

FA/ANA/16 September 2010--------