Italy: al Qaeda will exploit North African migrant flood

Italy: al Qaeda will exploit North African migrant flood

By Tim Lister, CNN

February 17, 2011 -- Updated 1802 GMT (0202 HKT)

Please click here to access the complete version of this article.

(CNN) -- It is now estimated that more than 5,000 would-be migrants have arrived on the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa in the past week -- most of them crossing from Tunisia to escape the political turmoil there or seek work in Europe.

The Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni has warned that al Qaeda may try to exploit "the explosion in the Maghreb" by sneaking operatives into Europe.

The asylum seekers have been crossing the Mediterranean from small Tunisian ports like Zarzis. From there Lampedusa is less than 100 miles nearer North Africa than it is the Italian mainland.

Politically, the current Italian government, led by prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, wants to keep the issue of illegal immigration in the public eye.

One EU-wide poll in 2009 found illegal immigration was twice as important to Italians as the rest of Europe, with 69% of Italians rating it top priority compared to an EU average of 31%. While many illegal migrants move on from Italy, many stay, often settling in makeshift camps on the outskirts of Italian cities.

Please click here to access the complete version of this article.

ENDS

© Scoop Media