Italian presenter Massimo Giletti this afternoon read from a letter sent by Malta’s ambassador in Rome Walter Balzan, during Rai Uno’s discussion programme L'Arena.

In the letter,sent on behalf of the Maltese government, Mr Balzan explained that it was not true that Malta shot at immigrants, and that Malta was also a recipient of boat people who ended up on its shores.

Last week, Mr Giletti claimed during the programme that migrants were not coming to Malta but were going to Lampedusa instead because Malta shot at them.

His claim was immediately denied by Mr Balzan on telephone, and later, by the Italian ambassador to Malta Luigi Marras.

Maltese people flooded the Facebook pages of Mr Giletti and Rai, complaining about the Mr Giletti's comments. They also urged the government to take legal action.

After reading from the letter, Mr Giletti hoped that now that this episode was over, the Maltese would again see him as a friend.