Palermo, Italy: An Italian court on Friday acquitted Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini of illegally blocking migrants on a rescue ship at sea in 2019, for which he had risked six years in prison.

A long round of applause greeted Matteo Salvini at the end of a trial that had Italy in suspense for over three years. The judges of the second section of the Palermo court acquitted the leader of the League on charges of kidnapping and refusal to perform official duties,

By Wladimir Pantaleone and Angelo Amante PALERMO, Italy (Reuters) -Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said on Friday he had no regrets over blocking a migrant rescue ship at sea as he awaited a verdict in his trial on charges of kidnapping those aboard the boat.