The unprecedented decision to bar the MV Aquarius from Italian harbours was taken by new Italian right-wing Interior Minister Matteo Salvini in line with an election pledge to take a tough line on migration. He demanded that Malta must accept the migrants instead.

New Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has  phoned Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat about the issue.

Muscat says Malta’s  refusing to allow the ship in because, in terms of international law, the migrants should been taken to the nearest port to their rescue, which is not Malta.

Malta says the German charity SOS Méditerranée picked up the migrants in Libyan waters, which means they fall under Italy’s jurisdiction.

The post Italy makes Maltese cross over migrant standoff appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.