Two Italian ships are taking the 629 migrants on the three-day voyage to Valencia where Spain’s new socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has offered them refuge.

French President Emmanuel Macron’s accused Italy of cynicism and irresponsibility for barring 629 migrants from landing in Sicily which is the nearest port to where they were rescued.

Italian premier Giuseppe Conte hits back calling the Macron hypocritical.

Conte says Italy has taken in more than 640 000 mainly African migrants over the past 5 years and its time other EU members step in to help to ease the burden. 

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The migrants will be transferred from the rescue ship Aquarius to the Italian vessels that will maker the 1400 km trip to Valencia.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has rounded on Italy’s new home affairs minister Matteo Salvini for breaking international law and creating the stalemate that left the rescued migrants stranded at sea.

Spain’s new socialist premier Pedro Sanchez says the migrants may land in Spain after they were barred by Italy and Malta.

European authorities are calling for a more coordinated response to dealing with maritime rescue operations to avoid future crisis that left seven pregnant women, 11 children and 127 unaccompanied minors among the 629 migrants saved by SOS Mediterranee in serious danger. 

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Their ship carrying seven pregnant women, 11 infants and 123 unaccompanied minors is still at sea at this hour.

The migrants were rescued in six operations by the organization SOS Mediterranee.

Because this happened in Libyan waters, the rescue vessel Aquarius headed for Sicily where Italy’s new rightwing government declared the port closed to it.

Authorities in Rome urged the ship to head to Malta which was also barred it.

The United Nations High Commission For Refugees declared the ship was running out of supplies and urgently needed help.

Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez said the Aquarius could dock in Valencia – 1 400 km away.

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Italy’s new rightwing government has closed its ports to the migrants rescued by a German vessel in Libyan waters.

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The UNHCR says migrants aboard the rescue ship Aquarius are in distress, running out of provision and urgently in need of help.

Italy’s closed its ports to the ship and said it should dock in Malta where prime minister Joseph Muscat insists international law determines Italy is responsible for them.

Mayors across southern Italy say they’re prepared to admit the migrants.

But they need the cooperation of the Italian coastguard. 

This afternoon Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says the rescue ship can dock in Valencia,

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