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Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this morning dissociated himself from insulting comments made by Maltese commenters who flooded the facebook page of EU Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom.

The insults were also condemned by the Opposition in the afternoon.

The comments were made in the wake of remarks by her spokesman yesterday urging Malta to take in 102 migrants who were stranded on a tanker.

The impasse was resolved last night when Italy agreed to receive the migrants.

But the Commissioner continued to receive a stream of protest about her position and EU policies as well as some personal insults and abuse in English and Maltese.

A number of Maltese wrote in to say that they dissociated themselves from the 'vicious vulgar and abusive comments' made against the commissioner.

Some of the abusive comments were later removed.

Meanwhile the Commissioner tweeted late this morning: "Relocation of asylum seekers is a way to show solidarity in Europe. Would be great if all 28 EU members would help and not only the same."

She also thanked Italy for having accepted the 102 migrants stranded on the tanker.

MUSCAT REACTION

In a reaction, Dr Muscat when asked, said he was against insults against anybody, but this was the reality of social media.

He insisted that arguments could be put forward in a solid way without the need to use insulting language.