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| Lampedusa wreck: EU proposes migrant rescue mission | Lampedusa wreck: EU proposes migrant rescue mission |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The European Commission is proposing that the EU launch Mediterranean-wide search and rescue patrols to intercept migrant boats. | |
| The move by Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem was prompted by the deaths of at least 250 migrants after their boat sank off Lampedusa. | The move by Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmstroem was prompted by the deaths of at least 250 migrants after their boat sank off Lampedusa. |
| She was presenting the plan to EU ministers in Luxembourg on Tuesday. | She was presenting the plan to EU ministers in Luxembourg on Tuesday. |
| The alleged skipper of the Lampedusa boat, a Tunisian man, is being held in Sicily, suspected of manslaughter. | The alleged skipper of the Lampedusa boat, a Tunisian man, is being held in Sicily, suspected of manslaughter. |
| Before putting forward her plan, Ms Malmstroem told reporters she was going to ask ministers from the 28 member states to allow a major operation by the EU's Frontex border agency "covering the whole Mediterranean, from Cyprus to Spain". | Before putting forward her plan, Ms Malmstroem told reporters she was going to ask ministers from the 28 member states to allow a major operation by the EU's Frontex border agency "covering the whole Mediterranean, from Cyprus to Spain". |
| Frontex is currently helping Italy to intercept migrant boats, but the two EU operations in the southern Mediterranean have limited resources - a total of four ships, two helicopters and two planes. | |
| The search and rescue patrols would "help better tracking, identification and rescue of boats, especially migrants' boats", the commissioner's spokesman Michele Cercone said. | |
| "It could help prevent tragedies like the one in Lampedusa," he added. | "It could help prevent tragedies like the one in Lampedusa," he added. |
| Meanwhile, the search for bodies from the boat that sank on Thursday off Lampedusa, an Italian island between Sicily and Africa, has resumed. | Meanwhile, the search for bodies from the boat that sank on Thursday off Lampedusa, an Italian island between Sicily and Africa, has resumed. |
| Divers, who have already recovered dozens of bodies, brought up another 18 on Tuesday, bringing the total number to 250. | Divers, who have already recovered dozens of bodies, brought up another 18 on Tuesday, bringing the total number to 250. |
| Many of the 500 people who were on board are still missing. The victims were mostly from Eritrea and Somalia. | Many of the 500 people who were on board are still missing. The victims were mostly from Eritrea and Somalia. |
| The alleged captain of the ship, Khaled Bensalam, 35, is in custody in Agrigento, Sicily. Investigators suspect him of being responsible for the sinking and he could face multiple counts of manslaughter, though no charges have yet been laid, the BBC's Rome office was told. | The alleged captain of the ship, Khaled Bensalam, 35, is in custody in Agrigento, Sicily. Investigators suspect him of being responsible for the sinking and he could face multiple counts of manslaughter, though no charges have yet been laid, the BBC's Rome office was told. |
| Until his arrest, he was with other survivors of the shipwreck at the reception centre in Lampedusa, Italian media report. | Until his arrest, he was with other survivors of the shipwreck at the reception centre in Lampedusa, Italian media report. |
| It is thought that other than the skipper, there was only one crewman aboard, and that he did not survive. | It is thought that other than the skipper, there was only one crewman aboard, and that he did not survive. |
| Limited resources | Limited resources |
| In Luxembourg, Ms Malmstroem was seeking political support for the necessary resources as well as the mission itself, because to implement it, "Frontex will need additional resources," her spokesman said. | In Luxembourg, Ms Malmstroem was seeking political support for the necessary resources as well as the mission itself, because to implement it, "Frontex will need additional resources," her spokesman said. |
| Tens of thousands of migrants attempt the perilous crossing from North Africa to Sicily and other Italian islands each year. | Tens of thousands of migrants attempt the perilous crossing from North Africa to Sicily and other Italian islands each year. |
| Accidents are common, but last week's shipwreck was among the deadliest on record. | Accidents are common, but last week's shipwreck was among the deadliest on record. |
| Italian Interior Minister Angelino Alfano backed the European Commission plan, arguing that more had to be done to save lives. "We are in the middle of the Mediterranean: we have saved thousands and thousands of people - now we are asking the EU for a hand in strengthening border control," he said. | Italian Interior Minister Angelino Alfano backed the European Commission plan, arguing that more had to be done to save lives. "We are in the middle of the Mediterranean: we have saved thousands and thousands of people - now we are asking the EU for a hand in strengthening border control," he said. |
| However, there was some concern among diplomats that the new mission was doomed to failure. One told AFP that it would result in migrant boats taking to sea as soon as they saw the Frontex ships in order to be rescued. | |
| There were 155 survivors of the Lampedusa accident, which happened about 1km (half a mile) offshore. | There were 155 survivors of the Lampedusa accident, which happened about 1km (half a mile) offshore. |
| The wreck is lying about 47m (155ft) below the surface, which means the recovery divers can only stay on the bottom for a short time. | The wreck is lying about 47m (155ft) below the surface, which means the recovery divers can only stay on the bottom for a short time. |
| On Monday, 38 bodies were freed from the hull, which divers had previously been unable to access. | On Monday, 38 bodies were freed from the hull, which divers had previously been unable to access. |
| Divers "unpacked a wall of people", a navy officer said, adding that corpses were "so entwined one with the other" they were difficult to pull out. | Divers "unpacked a wall of people", a navy officer said, adding that corpses were "so entwined one with the other" they were difficult to pull out. |
| Malta and Greece, as well as Italy, have long made appeals previously for more assistance from the EU for the states that bear the brunt of mass immigration. | Malta and Greece, as well as Italy, have long made appeals previously for more assistance from the EU for the states that bear the brunt of mass immigration. |
| The UN refugee agency is also urging EU countries to share the immigration burden more equally. | The UN refugee agency is also urging EU countries to share the immigration burden more equally. |
| A spokesman told the BBC that the experience of a small Italian island handling large numbers of migrants clearly showed how southern Europe was having to deal with an unfair share of the problem. | A spokesman told the BBC that the experience of a small Italian island handling large numbers of migrants clearly showed how southern Europe was having to deal with an unfair share of the problem. |
| But EU states have for years been unable to reach agreement on a common migration and asylum policy. | But EU states have for years been unable to reach agreement on a common migration and asylum policy. |
| Italian PM Enrico Letta is expected to travel to Lampedusa on Wednesday with Ms Malmstroem and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. | Italian PM Enrico Letta is expected to travel to Lampedusa on Wednesday with Ms Malmstroem and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso. |
| Key migrant routes to southern Europe | Key migrant routes to southern Europe |