Italy's ambassador to Egypt left Cairo on Sunday, Egyptian state news agency MENA reported, two days after Italy said it would recall its envoy for consultations because Egypt had failed to provide evidence needed to solve the murder of an Italian student in Cairo.
Ambassador Maurizio Massari was recalled by Italy for " urgent evaluation" of what steps are necessary to identify the truth behind the "barbaric murder of Giulio Regeni", Italy's foreign ministry said in a statement.
Egyptian officials met with Italian prosecutors in Rome on Thursday and Friday, to provide the latest findings in the investigation into the case, which has strained ties between the otherwise two close allies.
Italy was not satisfied with the evidence offered by Egypt, especially after Cairo refused to share phone records from the area where Regeni lived, Cairo's assistant public prosecutor said, saying the request for records was unconstitutional and unlawful.
The PhD student, who was in Cairo conducting research on independent trade unions, went missing on 25 January. His body was found, bearing signs of severe torture, by a roadside on the outskirts of the capital nine days later.
Egypt has vigorously denied claims that security forces were involved in Regeni's murder.
Egyptian police said in March they had discovered Regeni's passport and other items following a shootout with a criminal gang whose members had been all killed.
The developments have been dismissed by Italian officials who believe there is no evidence to directly link the gang to Regeni's killing
Italy's Foreign Minister Paolo Gentilon was quoted in media reports Sunday as saying that his country would be studying what necessary steps to take in the matter.
Prime Minister Matteo Renzi had said Italy would not settle for what he called a "convenient truth."
