The Italian parliament should block financing for air strikes in Libya, Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said today in a reflection of growing unease in Italy about the operation.

"Italy and other European governments should put the money into developing democracy, not bombs," said Maroni, a leading member of the anti-immigration Northern League party in coalition with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

"As long as there are bombs, refugees will arrive and they will need assistance," Maroni said, following the arrival on Italian shores of boats with thousands of African migrant workers escaping Libya in recent weeks.

"Something isn't working and we are the only ones to suffer a negative impact. We've had more than 20,000 refugees arrive from Libya," he said.

"I therefore hope that the war finishes soon because only a new government can handle this," he added, referring to a controversial immigration agreement between Italy and Libya that blocked migrant flows but is no longer in force.

The Northern League party is Silvio Berlusconi's last major political ally and its votes keep the legally-embattled prime minister in power.

The Northern League's electorate wants more money to be invested in boosting Italy's near-zero growth economy instead of overseas military missions.