Spain offers to take drifting migrant ship

Spain has offered to take in a rescue ship that is drifting in the Mediterranean sea with 629 migrants on board after Italy and Malta refused to let it dock.

The Aquarius ship picked up the migrants, including 123 unaccompanied minors, 11 other children and seven pregnant women, from inflatable boats off the coast of Libya at the weekend.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who took office just over a week ago, has given instructions for the boat to be admitted to the eastern port of Valencia, his office said in a statement on Monday.

It is our duty to help avoid a humanitarian catastrophe and offer a safe port to these people, to comply with our human rights obligations, Sanchez's office said.

This comes after the European Union and the United Nations refugee agency called for a swift end to the standoff.

Matteo Salvini, the head of the far-right League party who became interior minister this month vowing to crack down on the influx of migrants from Africa, blocked the ship, operated by SOS Mediterranee and Doctors without Borders, over the weekend.

Saving lives at sea is a duty, but transforming Italy into an enormous refugee camp is not, Salvini said on Facebook on Monday.

Italy is done bowing its head and obeying. This time there's someone saying no.

SOS Mediterranee said the ship had enough supplies to feed the migrants, at least for another day.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said on Sunday that he had told his Italian counterpart, Giuseppe Conte, his country would not take the ship.

Reuters