The government attributed the release to procedural reasons. But critics say it is because Italy depends on Libya to stem the flow of migrants from Africa.

Italian media reports and a Libyan official say police in Turin have arrested a Libyan warlord wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes.

Italy's interior minister said on Thursday a Libyan man detained under an international war crimes arrest warrant and then unexpectedly released had been swiftly repatriated because of his "social dangerousness".

Italy's interior minister has told lawmakers that he ordered the expulsion of a Libyan warlord sought by the International Criminal Court due to security concerns.

Italian authorities released the director of a notorious detention camp who had been arrested in Turin on an ICC war crimes warrant.

A Libyan warlord was arrested in Italy on an ICC warrant but was expelled back to Libya after a tribunal's refusal to approve the arrest.