With another 120 irregular immigrants rescued and heading Malta’s way, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat yesterday chastised the EU for its inaction and insisted resources were stretched beyond the limit.

The Government would act in the national interest and “nothing was excluded”, he said, adding the EU would have to pay “a human price” for its lack of action.

Dr Muscat, who was speaking on a visit to a cancer hospital in Jerusalem last night, said the migrants were being brought to Malta because it was the closest port. “They were in distress, I do not want to witness another tragedy.”

They were in distress and I do not want to witness another tragedy

The Armed Forces of Malta was involved in the rescue of nearly 150 migrants last week after their boat capsized. The incident is believed to have left between 50 and 200 people dead.

Last night 120 Somalian migrants were being brought to Malta aboard US Navy ship the USS San Antonio, after having been spotted aboard a dinghy 75 miles off the island by an AFM plane.

A patrol boat was initially dispatched in rough seas as a large merchant ship in the area provided temporary protection, the AFM said.

The San Antonio was 60 miles away and the AFM, which coordinated the rescue mission, asked it for assistance. In Force 6 winds, it took aboard the migrants and was last night heading for Malta, which was the closest safe port.

Earlier, Dr Muscat said: “It is unacceptable that European politicians only wake up when people die and I suspect that even if people do die there will be some who remain hardheaded.”

Asked about the state of emergency declared in Sicily and the Italian authorities’ decision to consider Lampedusa an unsafe port, Dr Muscat said this put more pressure on Malta.

“Before taking any decisions I will wait for the EU council meeting next week to see what concrete action is taken but at the moment we are doing more than our resources allow us to,” he said, adding that he was in constant contact with the Italian Government.

On Tuesday the governor of Sicily declared a state of emergency as more than 900 immigrants landed on the Italian island.

120 irregular migrants saved

Lampedusa, the southern-most EU territory, has received a huge influx of immigrants with no let-up in arrivals despite the onset of October.

Two weeks ago more than 300 immigrants drowned less than a kilometre away from Lampedusa after their boat caught fire and capsized.

Malta has put forward its proposals for discussion at the forthcoming EU council meeting and Dr Muscat wants the council to come up with a concrete plan of action on immigration. The Government is refusing to participate in renewed sea patrols under the aegis of Frontex, the EU border control agency, unless the rules of engagement are changed.

Current rules say the coordinating country must assume responsibility for rescued immigrants but Malta disagrees. Malta has always stuck to the principle enshrined in international conventions that rescued people should be taken to the nearest safe port.

Ansa news agency yesterday reported that Malta and five other Mediterranean countries have objected to draft recommendations for new Frontex rules of engagement.

Italy, Cyprus, France, Greece and Spain were among those who expressed disapproval of the draft and called it “unacceptable for practical and legal reasons”.

Dr Muscat was in Israel on a three-day visit that ends today.