Two Italian police officers have been placed under investigation, suspected of raping two American students while on duty in Florence.

The 20-year-old women say the carabinieri broke up a fight at the Flo nightclub and then accompanied them to their apartment building in the centre of the city.

The students allege that the officers attacked them once inside the building.

The women are reportedly studying the Italian language at a local institute.

Florence is a popular destination for foreign students wanting to learn Italian.

Local police chiefs reportedly told US officials that they would treat the case with the utmost transparency and rigour.