ROME – The personal intervention of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte brought about the rescue of 100 migrants in the early hours of Monday morning, after requests were allegedly ignored by the Libyan coastguard, Il Fatto Quotidiano reports.

 After distress signals raised by those on board a freighter stranded 50 miles off the Libyan coast were allegedly ignored by Libya, who deny such allegations, Conte reportedly intervened, urging the Libyan authorities to launch a rescue mission.

 “They will be brought to safety in the port of Misurata,” the Chigi palace reported after news of the successful rescue broke early on Monday morning.

 Interior Minister Matteo Salvini praised the collaborative efforts of Libya and Italy in the aftermath of the rescue of a further 393 migrants on Sunday. Tripoli, Misurata and al-Khoms each received over 100 of those stranded in the Mediterranean.

 “Fewer departures, fewer deaths,” Salvini commented after the Interior Ministry announced the success of the Libyan coastguard’s rescue. “Collaboration works … Smugglers, traffickers and Mafiosi must understand that their business has come to an end,” the League leader added.

 The importance of carrying out rescue missions as swiftly as possible was tragically reinforced by the death of around 170 individuals in the last week after the two vessels carrying the migrants sunk. (http://www.italianinsider.it/?q=node/7627)

 Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio was extremely critical of France in a Sunday broadcast with RTL 102.5, reiterating that Paris “impoverishes” Africa, leading to scores of Africans attempting to make the crossing to Europe.