Italian anti-migrant party leader issues ultimatum on closing borders

Rome April 24 (IANS/AKI) Any coalition government partner of Italy s anti-migrant League party must agree to seal Italy s borders "like any normal country " its leader Matteo Salvini stated on Monday.

"Whoever governs with the League must be committed to closing Italy s borders in order that no more people enter - not a single one " Salvini told a political rally in the northeastern city of Tolemezzo.

"They must guarantee that Italy s borders will once again be protected like those of any normal country " added Salvini.

The League party made strong gains in inconclusive national polls last month quadrupling its share of the vote compared with the 2013 election. Immigration is a sensitive issue in Italy where over 600 000 boat migrants have landed since 2014.

The League is now the dominant party in the centre-right alliance - the biggest parliamentary bloc. Along with the populist Five-Star Movement - the largest party - it has claimed first bid to try and form a government.

Three rounds of talks among party leaders this month on a coalition government failed amid a mesh of seemingly irreconcilable demands.

Italy has had a caretaker government since the March ballot in which no party or bloc won a parliamentary majority.

--IANS/AKI
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