Italy has threatened to return 177 migrants who have been on board an Italian coast guard ship for days.
According to news outlets, the Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said on Sunday that other European countries need to take in the migrants or he will return them to Libya.
"Europe needs to seriously decide to assist Italy in concrete terms, starting with 177 immigrants on board the Diciotti," he said, adding "Or we will be forced to do what will definitely break up the smugglers' business - that is to take the rescued people back to Libya."
The threat came during another stand-off with Malta after Italy asked it to rescue the migrants from their boats in Maltese waters on August 16.
The new far-right Italian government has been going very tough on the illegal immigration issue, refusing to open its ports for rescue ships bringing stranded migrants who crossed the sea via Libya.
Even after Italy agreed to reopen its port for rescue ships, the government, especially the Interior Minister who has been very critical of the EU policies and its little assistance in the issue of migrants.
