by Martin McGlown
News & City

A ship crammed with 5,000 refugees is today reported to be heading for Italy.

The rusting craft is only 300 feet long, making conditions on board extremely cramped.

The unnamed vessel, carrying mainly Turkish and Iraqi Kurds, is believed to be under the
control of the Turkish mafia which stands to make £1.5 million from the journey.

The ship left Smirne on the Turkish coast several days ago and is expected to arrive in Bari
next week.

The crew will probably abandon the ship off the Italian coast. It is thought to be following a
route through Greek and Cypriot waters.

Last weekend a ship was abandoned by its Turkish crew with 600 people on board and was
towed into the Italian port of Gallipoli.

Italian Minister of Justice Piero Fassino said this afternoon: "We are aware of this new ship
and are taking all precautions to avoid a massive invasion of refugees." The Italian
government last week criticised Turkey for not doing enough to tackle the problem.

Commenting in Rome-based newspaper Il Messagerro, Italian Minister of the Interior
Massimo Fassino said: "The situation is becoming drastic and we are taking immediate
measures.

"Investigators from the Turkish police have arrived here in the last few days to collaborate
with us.

"Unfortunately, the people who are entering Italy illegally are not all fleeing from political
persecution. Many are bandits, murderers and robbers who pass themselves off as Kurdish
refugees."
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The Kurdistan Observer
www.kurdistanobserver.com