Italy has called on the EU to take the strain of rescuing migrants crossing from Africa or says it will go its own way.<br /><br />Over the weekend, the Italian navy rescued more than 4,000 migrants who were packed into makeshift dinghies, many of which had capsized. It also recovered at least 25 bodies.<br /><br />On twitter, the Italian Interior Minister Angelino Alfano said on Monday “Either the immigration issue needs to be taken over by Europe or Italy will start taking its own decisions #italycannotwait”<br /><br />There has been no let-up in the record numbers risking the perilous crossing - over 100,000 migrants have arrived in Italy so far this year, close to double the number last year.<br /><br />Italy is spending 9.5 million euros a month on its Mare Nostrum migrant search-and-rescue operation and says it can no longer cope.<br /><br />It has been urging EU border agency Frontex to take the strain but the EU says Frontex is short of personnel and funding.<br /><br />Italian and EU officials are due to meet on Tuesday in Rome to discuss the issue.<br /><br />Meanwhile the steady flow of desperate people continues as human traffickers take advantage of the chaos in Libya to launch more crossings.
