Italian agents charged with rape

rome - Two US students in Italy said last week in Florence were raped by two agents of the carabinieri. They had given them a lift home from a nightclub where a fighter had been. The two women, aged 19 and 21, say the agents got married to them before they could come into their rooms.

The investigation of, among other things, DNA traces is still ongoing, but according to the Italian Minister of Defense there is 'only ground' for the allegations. 'Rape is always a serious matter, but at all when the perpetrators are carabinieri in uniform,' said Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti.

The carabinieri is a paramilitary police force that falls under the Ministry of Defense. She operates in addition to the national police, for which Domestic Affairs is responsible.

According to Italian media, the two women reported that they had drank alcohol and smoked cannabis and were too scared to scream or scream.