(ANSA) - Rome, June 22 - Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli
on Friday called on Malta to meet Italy's request for it to
allow the NGO-run ship Lifeline to dock on the Mediterranean
island after it rescued over 200 asylum seekers at sea.
He also warned that the vessel would be impounded if it does
not go to Malta.
"If the Lifeline NGO ship does not go to the port of Malta,
which it should and must do out of a sense of humanity and out
of respect for the law of the sea, it will be sequestered at
once," Toninelli told Tgcom24.
"As an Italian citizen, as the minister of infrastructure and
transport, and as a European citizen, I would be shocked at the
inhumanity of Malta if it did not receive the ship.
"Malta is currently the nearest and safest port".
Lifeline risks impoundment -Toninelli (2)
Transport minister says Malta has nearest, safest port