Tunisia: government measures to combat Italy immigration

The Tunisian government has initiated a series of measures aimed at combatting immigration on the Italian coast, according to a government official. In an interview on state TV Tunisia's Foreign Minister Rafik Abdessalem said that measures will include ramped up controls on the on the coast - where boats traditionally leave for Italy - as well as a network of information points for Tunisians about the necessary elements of a 'decent life'. In the same interview Abdessalem announced the creation of a crisis unit in response to the drowning of dozens of Tunisians off the coast of Lampedusa last week, adding that some Tunisian diplomats based in Italy will be deployed to the scene of the disaster to follow the investigation.