Ship carrying 230 asylum seekers docks in France after Italy refuses entry

French interior minister warns authorities in Rome of ‘severe consequences’ for failing to accept vessel

A charity-operated ship carrying hundreds of asylum-seekers who were rescued at sea in the central Mediterranean has docked in the French military port of Toulon after almost three weeks stuck offshore, during which Italy’s far-right government failed to give it safe port.

The French government agreed on Thursday to take the boat in, calling it an “exceptional” move and promising to retaliate against Italy for not respecting international law to give port to the boat in Italian waters.

Continue reading...

from The Guardian https://ift.tt/zVkOJxn