Italy seizes migrant rescue boat Mare Jonio

Sicilian prosecutors on Tuesday ordered the seizure of the Italian-flagged ship "Mare Jonio." The rescue boat was allowed to dock at the Italian island of Lampedusa while accompanied by coast guard ships, following nearly two days at sea.

The decision ended a standoff between the migrant rescue boat and the Italian government. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini had earlier ordered authorities to deny the ship access to Italian ports.

Before issuing the permit to dock, prosecutors launched an investigation into possible aiding and abetting of illegal immigration, a move Salvini praised. 

"Now in Italy there is a government that defends the borders and ensures respect for the law, most of all for human traffickers," he said. "He who makes mistakes, pays."

The group of 49 migrants, including 12 minors, were rescued by humanitarian group Mediterranea Saving Humans. "Those on board had been at sea for almost two days," the NGO said in a statement. "(They) are exhausted and dehydrated."

Read more: Europe's migrant rescue boats face uncertain future

'Repressive'

Salvini has come under fire for attempting to block migrant rescue boats from docking at Italian ports. 

Human rights watchdog Amnesty International last year accused the Italian government of "repressive management of the migratory phenomenon."

Italy has taken the brunt of a wave of migration after EU member states cut off the so-called Balkan route. Nearly half a million irregular migrants have made the dangerous journey across the central Mediterranean and made landfall in Italy, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Rome has conceded that saving lives at sea is a priority, but maintains that national authorities must be obeyed and premeditated action to bring immigrants to Italy would amount to facilitating human trafficking.

Italy, with the support of the EU, has trained the Libyan coast guard to intercept boats carrying migrants in a bid to prevent migrants from reaching European shores.

Read more:Follow the money: What are the EU's migration policy priorities? 

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ls,ta/rt (AP, AFP)