Number of illegal immigrants reaching Italy tumbles

The number of illegal immigrants entering southern Italy fell by almost 50 per cent over the past year, the Interior Ministry said on Saturday.

The figures gave a boost to Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government which introduced tough legislation in 2002 aimed at cracking down on people trafficking.

The Interior Ministry said in a statement that 9,985 immigrants reached Italy's southern shores by boat between July 2003 and June 2004. In the previous 12 month period, that figure totalled 19,294.

"Notably, the flow of people... coming via Albania and Turkey was sharply lower," the ministry said.

The vast majority of immigrants landed on the Mediterranean islands of Sicily and Lampedusa - some 9,917 against a previous 17,830. Italy believes many of these people set sail from Libya and is seeking a deal with Tripoli to try to stem the flow.

Rome has struck one such deal with neighbouring Albania, helping the local navy to patrol national waters and prevent boats laden with immigrants from heading to Italy.

Despite Saturday's figures, Italian authorities say they have no intention of lowering their guard.

Almost 30 African immigrants died of cold and dehydration while trying to reach Italian shores last weekend, before a merchant ship plucked 75 barely conscious survivors to safety.

In the wake of that tragedy, Italy and Germany made a joint appeal for the creation of immigration "gateways" established outside Europe to help regulate the wave of would-be immigrants.

Immigration control is a hot political issue in Italy and one of the first major pieces of legislation passed by the Berlusconi administration was a law that made it easier to expel the "clandestini".

The Interior Ministry said on Saturday that Italy had chartered 50 planes over the past year to fly home illegal immigrants against just 23 flights in the previous 12 months.

Italy is a major entry point for illegal immigrants looking to come to Europe. The vast majority arrive by boat and then look to head on, with many aiming to join friends and family already established in northern European countries.