Tunisia migrants: Italy puts Europe on alert
Baku, February 15 (AZERTAC). Italy has warned that an influx of Tunisian migrants arriving on its shores could have devastating consequences for all European nations.
Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said migrants who have landed on the island of Lampedusa threaten the institutional and social structures of Europe.
Italy is asking the EU for about 100m euros (£84m) to tackle the influx.
In another development, a boat was intercepted off Sicily carrying about 30 people believed to be from Egypt.
Italian police said the boat was intercepted overnight off the coast near Ragusa.
Meanwhile, in Tunisia, the authorities have lifted a night-time curfew.
But the interior ministry said the state of emergency, which has been in place since President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali went into exile last month, will continue "until further notice".
More than 5,000 immigrants have reached Lampedusa - south of Sicily - by boat in the past week.
The upsurge follows last month`s mass protests over unemployment and poverty in Tunisia which resulted in the overthrow of President Ben Ali.
Most of those arriving in Lampedusa say they are seeking work and a better life in Europe, although correspondents say they could include escaped convicts and members of the ousted regime fleeing retribution.
"It is a question that risks igniting an extremely fast process of change in North African countries, that can have devastating consequences on the institutional and social structures of European nations," Mr. Maroni said.
"I have asked, and I think it is fundamental, that Europe at its top levels - meaning heads of state and government - defines a strategy... and starts a strong diplomatic action towards all countries that are touched by these phenomena."
Mr. Maroni also said he had asked for the intervention of the EU`s border management agency, Frontex, and deployed an extra 200 soldiers to supervise centres where migrants are staying.
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