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WORLD NEWS Friday 16 august 2019

Italy's PM: Salvini 'obsessed' with blocking migrants at sea

ROME (AP) — A humani- many, Romania, Portugal,
tarian boat carrying 147 Spain and Luxembourg
migrants rescued at sea said they're willing to take
was eventually allowed to the migrants on Open Arms.
let nine persons disembark Salvini's League stokes fears
Thursday night on a tiny that migrants are to blame
Italian island, but the oth- for crime and feeds resent-
ers were stuck aboard for ment among his voter base
a 15th night, as the drama against Brussels for its lack
was swept up in Italy's rap- of solidarity, since EU rules
idly worsening government hold that migrants must ap-
crisis. ply for asylum in the coun-
With a political standoff ex- try where they set foot.
acerbated by the migra- Salvini is openly campaign-
tion issue, Italian Premier ing to be Italy's next pre-
Giuseppe Conte rebuked mier even though no new
his interior minister for be- elections have been set.
ing "obsessive" about clos- He seized upon the Open
ing Italian ports in a migrant Arms stalemate, the latest
crackdown. in a series of standoffs, to
The Spanish rescue boat blame Italy's migrant plight
Open Arms tweeted that A migrant reads verses of the Quran aboard the Open Arms Spanish humanitarian boat as it ar- on the previous center-left
the "urgent" evacuation of rives near Lampedusa coast in the Mediterranean Sea, Thursday, Aug.15, 2019. governments led by the
five persons was authorized Associated Press Democratic Party (PD),
for psychological reasons now Parliament's biggest
and four family members conference that he was the government's collapse. letting Open Arms sail into opposition force.
were allowed to accom- "proud" of his "obsession," Earlier on Thursday, Spain Italian waters. In defiance, "It's thanks to this presumed
pany them. The nine were saying that he is deter- and five other nations Salvini again banned the concept of 'humanity' that
transferred by the Italian mined to keep Italy safe agreed to take who were ship from Italian waters and in years of the PD govern-
coast guard in a motorized and its borders secured, aboard Open Arms. from docking at Lampe- ments that Italy became
rubber dinghy. because "that's what Ital- But the ad hoc offers by fel- dusa. Defense Minister the refugee camp of Eu-
The fate of the remaining ian citizens pay me for." low European Union nations Elisabetta Trenta, to whom rope," Salvini said on Face-
138 migrants stayed unre- "I'd expect a 'thank you" did little to calm the politi- the Italian navy answers, re- book.
solved. not a follow-up with insults," cal turmoil that could lead fused to countersign it. Maneuvering this week
"We continue to not have Salvini later told Sky TG24 to early elections that the Trenta said she acted "lis- among Italy's political lead-
authorization to disembark TV. euro-skeptic Salvini hopes tening to my conscience." ers has raised the possibility
the other persons aboard," While other private rescue will give him the premier- "We can't forget that be- of the 5-Stars forging an al-
Open Arms said. "This will be boats have been caught ship in his quest to move hind the polemics of these liance with the Democrats
their 15th night" sleeping on up in standoffs caused by Italy farther to the right. days there are children to thwart Salvini's quest for
the crowded ship, which Salvini's policy of refusing In the open letter posted and youths who suffered the premiership.
has described deteriorat- docking to charity boat, on Facebook, Premier Gi- violence and every kind of Even as the fighting over
ing medical and hygiene the Open Arms' crew and useppe Conte accused his abuse," she said. Open Arms played out, an-
conditions. migrants risked being col- interior minister of "disloyal Trenta is from the 5-Star other migrant rescue boat
In an open letter to Inte- lateral damage in Italy's cooperation ... that I can- Movement, the senior co- drama loomed.
rior Minister Matteo Salvini, rapidly worsening govern- not accept." alition party, which backs The Ocean Viking, a Nor-
Conte rebuked the right- ment crisis. Earlier this week, Conte Conte. wegian ship operated by
wing leader of the junior Last week, Salvini's League had urged Salvini to allow Salvini insists that other EU Doctors Without Borders
coalition League party for brought a non-confidence the disembarking of the 32 nations accept more mi- and SOS Mediterranee, was
his "obsessive concentra- motion against Conte's minors, but the interior min- grants, most of whom are awaiting word of where it
tion in facing the theme of 14-month-old populist gov- ister ignored the appeal. fleeing poverty and aren't can safely disembark 356
immigration, reducing it to ernment. No date has been On Wednesday, a Rome- eligible for refugee status. migrants it rescued from
a "closed ports' formula." set for the showdown in the based administrative court Conte in his letter an- traffickers' unseaworthy
Salvini shot back at a news Senate, which could trigger overruled Salvini's ban on nounced that France, Ger- boats. q