Angry Maltese reaction as Lampedusa bars entry to AFM patrol boat

Updated - Adds details, picture of sinking migrants' boat.

Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici this morning accused Italy of having reneged on in its legal and humanitarian obligations after a Maltese patrol boat which had just rescued 171 migrants was not allowed entry into Lampedusa - the closest port to the scene.

Using uncharacteristically strong language, Dr Mifsud Bonnici explained how the rescue took place on Lampedusa's doorstep. Yet the Italian authorities replied to Maltese calls for help in the rescue operation some two hours after the rescue started and only after it was complete.

After the Maltese boat picked up the migrants, it steamed towards the island of Lampedusa, just 54 nautical miles away. However, the Italian authorities refused entry and the patrol boat stood outside Lampedusa's territorial waters for some 90 minutes. Given the rough seas and the Italian authorities' refusal, a decision was eventually taken to bring the rescued migrants to Malta - 91 nautical miles away.

"This was not correct behaviour by the Italians," the minister said.

The migrants, for the first time, included Libyans.

The minister explained that the rescue operation started at 3.55 p.m. yesterday. P61 happened to be in the area looking for survivors after another migrants boat capsized on Wednesday.

At 4.32 p.m. Malta asked the Italians to assist in the rescue. The Italians only replied at 6.15 p.m, when all the migrants had been taken on board the patrol boat.

The Italians refused entry to the Maltese patrol boat at Lampedusa because they argued it was not safe as it was 'full up' and medical assistance could not be provided.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said he could not understand this as, according to media reports, only 84 migrants remained at Lampedusa.

The patrol boat arrived in Malta at 5 a.m. carrying 151 men, 17 women and three children.

815 migrants arrived on two boats last week, the first arrivals in over a year. All are believed to have left from Libya.

JOY AMID THE TRAGEDY

Meanwhile, 50 of the 53 migrants rescued from the sea on Wednesday this morning were taken by plane to Brindisi. Among them were 'Mimi' and her boyfriend 'Peter' whose story was the only happy aspect of the tragedy.

Each had thought that the other had perished in the rough seas, and they then embraced each other warmly when they were finally reunited by the rescuers.