(Updated)

An Italian warship which had been heading for Malta with a group of 65 illegal migrants on board has turned back and is heading for Sicily.

The frigate Minerva had rescued the migrants from a dinghy 40 nautical miles from Lampedusa and had intended landing them in Malta, but the Maltese authorities refused it entry into Maltese waters, saying that Lampedusa was the closest port.

The migrants were picked up some 40 nautical miles south west of Lampedusa in what the Italian authorities say are waters falling within the Maltese rescue region. Malta, however, insists that since the migrants were closer to Lampedusa - and 115 miles off Malta - they should have been taken to Lampedusa.

"As Lampedusa is the nearest safe port, Malta has indicated that the rescued persons should be landed in that location as per international obligations," a spokesman for the AFM said when contacted this morning.

Meanwhile, Corriere della Sera reported that a further 237 migrants were rescued and taken to Lampedusa early this morning.

Parliament is today due to start a two-day debate on illegal immigration, requested by the Opposition. The debate was requested after the influx of of migrants in the past three months.