Reply #25: Related but from Tunisia

[Catherina]

1.17pm: More than 1,000 illegal immigrants escaping political turmoil in north Africa arrived on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa in the Mediterranean on Sunday night, Reuters reports.

Taking advantage of good weather, the immigrants, most of them from Tunisia, arrived in more than 10 boats. Some of the boats made it to the shores on their own, others were intercepted by the coastguard and their passengers taken off. None were believed to have left from Libya, but officials fear an exodus from Italy's former colony if the situation worsens.

From Lampedusa immigrants are sent by plane to holding centres on the mainland but the backlog is beginning to grow.

Interior minister Roberto Maroni said last week an aid mission to Tunisia to provide food and medical help was aimed at handling the refugee situation in north Africa but it was already preparing for a potential surge of immigrants to Italy.

More than 7,000 people from Tunisia have arrived in Italy since Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali was ousted as president in mid-January.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2011/mar/07/libya-uprising-live-updates?CMP=twt_gu

Racist anti-immigration feelings in serious play now. Berlusconi's, Sarkozy's biggest nightmare materializing. Others too I'm sure.