Calm weather brings Italy fresh wave of migrants

At least 400 illegal migrants landed on the Italian island of Lampedusa over the weekend from north Africa, the coastguard said yesterday.

It was the first mass arrival for two months after weeks of poor weather prevented people risking the perilous trip.

At least three tightly packed boats landed on the tiny Mediterranean island which is the closest part of the European Union to parts of North Africa.

At least 3,000 migrants landed there last summer and autumn. Italy has adopted a policy of almost instant deportation to Libya with which it has an agreement to accept and repatriate the migrants who come from around Africa and the Middle East.

Many people die from drowning or starvation during the crossing. In January, Italy issued arrest warrants for 29 North Africans based in Libya, Egypt and southern Italy for allegedly trafficking people into Italy last year.