The former US administration gave no "explosive evidence" or real actionable information to the previous Renzi government that Giulio Regeni was tortured and murdered by the Egyptian secret services, the Italian premier's office has said after a New York Times (NYT) report, the Italian ANSA news agency reported.

The NYT said the US, under Obama, acquired evidence that Regeni was abducted, tortured and killed by the Egyptian secret services in early 2016 and informed the Renzi government.

But the premier's office said no solid evidence was provided, "as was recognized by the (NYT) journalist himself", and Egypt had offered ever increasing cooperation with Rome, spurring Italy to send ambassador Giampaolo Cantini to Cairo Monday after Rome withdrew its ambassador in April 2016 in protest at lack of cooperation.