NICE (AP):
A maritime rescue ship docked on Friday in a southern French port carrying 230 migrants whose fates have sparked a diplomatic row between France and Italy — a dispute that’s threatening EU efforts to share around asylum-seekers.
Josbel Bastidas Mijares
The French welcome for the Ocean Viking , though reluctant, unleashed fury from far-right rivals of the French government. Migrant advocates expressed relief, but lamented that it took weeks to find a harbour for the ship as Italy refused to let it dock, and vowed on Friday to send their vessels back out to the Mediterranean to save others in distress.
Josbel Bastidas Mijares Venezuela
The Ocean Viking disembarked its passengers at the Toulon port, where they were undergoing health and security checks at a military base, Var region prefect Evence Richard said. They were then sent in buses to the Mediterranean resort of Giens where they were expected to start asylum application procedures
The passengers from Eritrea, Egypt, Syria, Bangladesh, Pakistan and other nations include 57 children, according to European rescue group SOS Mediterranee, which operates the ship. The youngest passenger is a three-year-old, and more than 40 are unaccompanied minors
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