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Italy turns rescued migrants back | Italy turns rescued migrants back |
(about 21 hours later) | |
The Italian navy has transferred more than 200 migrants picked up in waters off the island of Malta to Tripoli under a new agreement with Libya. | The Italian navy has transferred more than 200 migrants picked up in waters off the island of Malta to Tripoli under a new agreement with Libya. |
The migrants were rescued after they issued a distress call on Wednesday. | The migrants were rescued after they issued a distress call on Wednesday. |
Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said the Libyan government's move could mark a "turning point" in the fight against illegal immigration. | Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said the Libyan government's move could mark a "turning point" in the fight against illegal immigration. |
He said it could also help resolve an ongoing dispute between Italy and Malta over responsibility for the migrants. | He said it could also help resolve an ongoing dispute between Italy and Malta over responsibility for the migrants. |
Last month, there was a diplomatic standoff between the two after the authorities in Valletta refused to accept 140 migrants heading for Italy, even though they were picked up by a Turkish ship inside Malta's search and rescue area. | Last month, there was a diplomatic standoff between the two after the authorities in Valletta refused to accept 140 migrants heading for Italy, even though they were picked up by a Turkish ship inside Malta's search and rescue area. |
Malta had insisted that the vessel take the migrants to the island of Lampedusa, where Italy has a detention centre for asylum seekers and illegal migrants, because it was the nearest port of call. | Malta had insisted that the vessel take the migrants to the island of Lampedusa, where Italy has a detention centre for asylum seekers and illegal migrants, because it was the nearest port of call. |
Rome eventually took in the migrants on humanitarian grounds. | Rome eventually took in the migrants on humanitarian grounds. |
Nearly 37,000 migrants landed on the shores of Italy last year, an increase of around 75% over the year before. | Nearly 37,000 migrants landed on the shores of Italy last year, an increase of around 75% over the year before. |
'Historic day' | 'Historic day' |
The 227 illegal migrants were rescued by an Italian tanker on Wednesday after being spotted on three separate boats. | The 227 illegal migrants were rescued by an Italian tanker on Wednesday after being spotted on three separate boats. |
Italian customs official Francesco Maugeri said they were sent back to Tripoli on Thursday aboard two coast guard boats and a border police boat. | Italian customs official Francesco Maugeri said they were sent back to Tripoli on Thursday aboard two coast guard boats and a border police boat. |
FROM BBC WORLD SERVICE class="" href="http://bbc.co.uk/worldservice/index.shtml">More from BBC World Service | |
"Some of the migrants were suffering symptoms probably caused by exhaustion and cold" but none had serious health problems, he told the Associated Press. | "Some of the migrants were suffering symptoms probably caused by exhaustion and cold" but none had serious health problems, he told the Associated Press. |
Speaking on Italian television afterwards, Mr Maroni said he had contacted the Libyan government and arranged the immediate return of the migrants. | Speaking on Italian television afterwards, Mr Maroni said he had contacted the Libyan government and arranged the immediate return of the migrants. |
He said an accord already existed with Libya covering the return of illegal immigrants but that it had never been successfully put into effect. | He said an accord already existed with Libya covering the return of illegal immigrants but that it had never been successfully put into effect. |
The interior minster, a member of the anti-immigration Northern League party, praised Libya's acceptance as a possible "turning point", calling it "a historic day". | The interior minster, a member of the anti-immigration Northern League party, praised Libya's acceptance as a possible "turning point", calling it "a historic day". |
He said the deal, if implemented in the future, would be a "breakthrough" that could put an end to rows between Italy and Malta over rescue operations. | He said the deal, if implemented in the future, would be a "breakthrough" that could put an end to rows between Italy and Malta over rescue operations. |
Mr Maroni said long-promised joint coastal patrols off Libya by Italian and Libyan boats would start on 15 May. | Mr Maroni said long-promised joint coastal patrols off Libya by Italian and Libyan boats would start on 15 May. |
Laurens Jolles, the representative of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Rome, said he was concerned by Thursday's development. | |
"I very much recognise the problems that countries such as Italy and Malta are facing," he told the BBC. | |
"However, I do think it's a worrying trend, because the fact is that there is a member state of the European Union which is engaging in an official, declared policy of push-backs." |