‘Tanker with migrants refused by Malta arrives in Sicily’

Published on 8 August 2013 at 09:51

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The Liberian tanker MT Salamis, which rescued 102 mainly north African migrants found stranded in the Mediterranean Sea, arrived in Siracusa after Italian authorities agreed to accept the passengers who had earlier been refused permission to disembark in Malta.

“The European Commission had urged Malta to accept the migrants, including four pregnant women and another requiring medical care,” explains The Malta Independent, adding –

Malta insists it was acting within its rights under international law to rebuff the tanker, saying Libya was the closest port when the tanker rescued the migrants. The tanker proceeded to Malta despite the Maltese government’s instructions to head for Libya.

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[…] Italy accepted to take the migrants after lengthy diplomatic discussions involving Italy, Greece and Malta, the Department of Information said.

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