Italy says it intends to triple its presence in the southern
Mediterranean
Italy is stepping up sea and air patrols following
the deaths of hundreds of migrants sailing in
overcrowded boats from North Africa.
Prime Minister Enrico Letta said an "air and naval
package" would start on Monday south of Sicily.
On Friday at least 33 people died when their boat
capsized between Malta and the Italian island of
Lampedusa.
A week earlier, more than 350 migrants died in another
shipwreck off Lampedusa.
Italy has previously called for EU help in dealing with
the thousands of desperate migrants who wash up on
its beaches every year. Many are families fleeing war
and poverty in Africa and the Middle East who hope for
a better life in Europe.
But the recent loss of life has led to further calls for EU
action.
Defence Minister Mario Mauro said Italy intended to
triple its presence in the southern Mediterranean.
It had become necessary "in part by the fact that Libya
is currently a 'non-state'," he told Italian newspaper
Avvenire.
"We need strong action to stop these shipwrecks," he
added.
Italian media reported that unmanned drone aircraft
based in Sicily could also be used to identify boats in
trouble.
Foreign Minister Emma Bonino said the patrols would
be to rescue migrants rather than "telling them to stay
where they are".
In addition to coastguard and border police vessels, the
Italian navy currently has three ships supported by four
helicopters patrolling the area. It can also call on two
surveillance aircraft with night-vision capabilities.
Migrants who survived Friday's capsize say they were
were shot at as they left Libya.
Lampedusa has set up a temporary camp to house
migrants
One survivor told the BBC that some on board were
shot and that bullet holes caused the boat to start
sinking.
Some have suggested that the Libyan coast guard had
fired at the boat, though other accounts suggested that
rival trafficking gangs or Libyan militiamen may have
been to blame.
Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat visited Libya on
Sunday where he discussed the issue of migrant boats
with his Libyan counterpart Ali Zeidan.
"We are determined to deal with the problem," Mr
Zeidan said.
"Several measures have been taken in terms of
equipment and the addition of maritime police to
increase the monitoring of our shores," he added.
"But, as you know, human traffickers have gained
considerable expertise on this matter and despite
tightening measures sometimes it is out of the hands of
the authorities."
Armed militias still hold some power in parts of Libya
since they helped topple Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
Mr Zeidan was himself seized by militiamen last
Thursday and held for several hours before being
released.
Mr Muscat has called on EU states to act over the
migrant boats, saying that a "cemetery" was being
created in the Mediterranean.
According to the UN, some 32,000 migrants have
arrived in Malta and Italy this year.
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