The United States is to continue helping Malta in the resettlement of immigrants, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil was told during a meeting with US State Department officials responsible for the resettlement programme.

The US has already taken 2,000 people from Malta, offering them the opportunity to embark on a new life on the American continent.

Dr Busuttil expressed his appreciation and insisted on the importance that this aid continued to be given to mitigate the migratory pressure on Malta.

He said that through its actions, the US, was serving as an example to many other countries.

The Opposition leader hoped that such crucial help would encourage European states which were geographically closer to Malta to take similar action through systems that would ensure that the dignity and rights of the people and countries concerned were safeguarded.