(ANSA) - Rome, June 14 - Deputy Premier and Interior Minister
Matteo Salvini on Friday launched a fresh attack on the
Sea-Watch NGO after it refused to take 52 migrants it rescued
off Libya this week to Tripoli.
The Sea Watch 3 ship, which is close to the Italian island of
Lampedusa, at one stage seemed to have turned towards Malta, but
Salvini said it is not going there.
Sea-Watch has on several occasions sought to challenge
Salvini's policy of closing Italy's ports to NGO-run
search-and-rescue ships.
The government, meanwhile, has just passed a new decree that
would see NGO ships that bring migrants rescued at sea to Italy
without permission fined up to 50,000 euros.
"We are witnessing the umpteenth show," Salvini said.
"They say they are good, but they are kidnapping women and
children in the middle of the sea.
"#closedports for them!".
Sea Watch playing with migrants- Salvini
NGO vessel has refused to take rescued migrants to Tripoli