Italy's Supreme Court has rejected appeals by two former Nazi SS officers, who were jailed for life, for their part in the killing of three hundred and thirty five civilians in 1944.

Karl Hass and Erich Priebke, now in their eighties, had initially been given reduced sentences because of their age, but they were overturned in a court ruling last March.

The were each convicted of killing hostages at the Ardeatine Caves near Rome.