Malta yesterday took in 129 illegal migrants as politicians battled it out over the agreement on the new EU Immigration Pact, which includes a clause on burden-sharing.
Migration topped the political agenda last week as EU justice ministers discussed the pact on immigration, proposed by the French Presidency of the EU - yesterday's arrivals pushed the total number of illegal immigrants reaching Malta this year to 2,400.
While the government patted itself on the back for securing the inclusion of a clause on shared responsibility among all EU member states, the Labour Party and other parties shot it down, saying it was not what the country needed (see page 2).
The 129 immigrants arrived in separate boatloads.
The Armed Forces of Malta said that at about 7.15 a.m. it was informed that a boatload of immigrants was close to Għar Lapsi.
An AFM patrol boat and a helicopter were dispatched to assist the police rounding up the migrants who had landed and were roaming the area.
The operation was concluded in a few minutes and the police apprehended 24 males and four female immigrants.
Some time later, the AFM was informed that the Italian warship Vega had rescued 101 migrants who were drifting in inclement weather conditions in the southern part of Malta's search and rescue area.
They were located after using a satellite phone to call the Italian coastguard on Saturday evening. When the call was received, the boat was in the Libyan search and rescue area but by the time help arrived it had drifted into Maltese waters.
The AFM said the group consists of 87 men, 10 women and four children.
The Vega anchored in Maltese territorial waters and the migrants were transferred to two patrol boats last night.
An Italian Guardia di Finanza vessel intercepted a group of about 38 illegal migrants some 50 miles south of Lampedusa yesterday morning. They were taken to the Italian island.
The group consisted of 33 males and five females who were on an eight-metre long wooden boat. Sources said they were in good health.
Lampedusa has had its fair share of arrivals over the weekend. On Saturday, three boatloads with 150 migrants made it to the island.