Italy warns of influx of Tunisians (VIDEO)

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The World

Italy is asking the European Union for about $135 million to help it cope with thousands of Tunisians arriving on its shores following Tunisia's uprising over unemployment and poverty.

About 5,000 would-be migrants have landed on the tiny island of Lampedusa in recent days, many of them Tunisians who say they are seeking work and a better life in Europe.

However, correspondents say they could include escaped convicts and members of the ousted regime of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali fleeing retribution.

Tunisian troops are reportedly patrolling ports to try to stop the exodus. However, Tunisia's foreign ministry has rejected Italy's request that it be allowed to send police to Tunisia. The ministry says it will not let anyone infringe on Tunisia's sovereignty or interfere in its internal affairs.

One Italian official called it an “unprecedented biblical exodus,” according to the New York Times.

Wearing hooded sweaters, leather jackets and traditional Tunisian robes, hundreds could be seen in recent days wandering around Lampedusa — a tiny Italian island that has become a gateway for illegal immigration into Europe.

Italy planned Tuesday to relocate some of them to better-equipped migrant reception camps elsewhere in Italy.

In another development, a boat was intercepted off Sicily carrying about 30 people believed to be from Egypt, BBC reported.

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, beset by a sex scandal, has asked the EU for $135 million in aid to help Italy cope with what it calls a humanitarian emergency.

Italy's Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said the would-be migrants threatened the institutional and social structures of Europe.

"It is a question that risks igniting an extremely fast process of change in North African countries, that can have devastating consequences on the institutional and social structures of European nations," Maroni said.

"I have asked, and I think it is fundamental, that Europe at its top levels — meaning heads of state and government — defines a strategy … and starts a strong diplomatic action towards all countries that are touched by these phenomena."

Lampedusa Mayor Bernadino Rubeis has declared a state of emergency.

"There is an entire nation trying to escape Tunisia to reach Italy and then to go on to other countries," he said.

EU President Herman Van Rompuy said he agreed with Berlusconi that the entire EU was facing an emergency and that he was prepared to hold talks with all EU leaders as soon as possible.

Since Tunisia overthrew Ben Ali last month, police patrols along the coast have been patchy.

EU foreign policy chief Baroness Catherine Ashton has visited Tunis promising support. She said the EU wanted to be Tunisia's "strongest ally" in pushing towards democracy and announced immediate new financial help of $23 million.

Italy's Foreign Minister Franco Frattini is also due to visit the Tunisian capital.

He discussed the influx by phone with Lady Ashton and called for the EU border agency Frontex to help patrol the waters off Lampedusa, Italy's La Repubblica newspaper reported.

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