Venice mayor urges naval blockade against migrants

(ANSA) - Venice, June 17 - Newly elected Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro on Wednesday said the government should impose a naval blockade to stop migrants from arriving in Italy. "We need to impose a naval blockade, given that migrants are departing from all over Africa as we speak," said the mayor, who hails from Silvio Berlusconi's center-right Forza Italia (FI) party and won a run-off vote at the weekend with backing from the anti-immigrant, anti-euro Northern League party.
    "State officials swear on the flag and on the Italian people," Brugnaro went on.
    "They are supposed to defend our homes, our people and the fatherland," he said.
    "Whoever is up for it must militarily defend our borders," the mayor added.
    "Those who are not up for it must resign".