Italy shuts ports to migrant rescue ship
Milan, June 11 (IBNS): In a major development, Italy has refused to give permission for a rescue vessel to drop off 629 migrants which it had picked up off Libya's coast, media reports said on Monday.
The permission was not granted by the country's new interior minister Matteo Salvini.
As per BBC report, Matteo Salvini, leader of the far-right League, said Malta should let the Aquarius dock but he was rejected.
Malta said the German charity SOS Méditerranée had picked up the migrants in Libyan waters, which meant they fell under Italy's jurisdiction, reported BBC.
Italy plays as the main entry point for migrants who cross from North Africa to Europe.
SOS Méditerranée France, which runs the Aquarius, said in a tweet: " With 629 survivors aboard,#Aquarius he was instructed by the Italian Maritime Relief Coordination Centre (IMRCC) to remain in standby at its current position, i.e. 35000 nautical miles from the #Italie and 27000 nautical #Malte."
Avec 629 rescapés à bord, l'#Aquarius a reçu l'instruction du Centre de coordination des secours maritimes italien (IMRCC) de rester en stand-by à sa position actuelle, soit 35 milles nautiques de l'#Italie et 27 milles nautiques de #Malte pic.twitter.com/wAIUIsOw9g
— SOS MEDITERRANEE France (@SOSMedFrance) June 10, 2018
Image: SOS Méditerranée France Twitter page
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