A total of 675 migrants, including children and babies, were rescued off the Spanish coast over the weekend, a government spokesman said.

On Saturday, 405 were picked up from what are often unseaworthy people smugglers' vessels, with seven children and babies among the African migrants.

The rescuers were unaware of any who were in serious medical condition or lost overboard.

Spain has become the biggest port of entry for clandestine migration into Europe after Italy largely closed its borders under pressure from far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini.

More than 40,000 migrants have reached Spain since the start of the year, most via the maritime route but also by making their way into Spain's two tiny enclaves in Morocco -- Ceuta and Melilla -- according to the International Organization for Migration.

That represents 40 per cent of the roughly 100,000 arrivals throughout Europe over the period. Meanwhile, more than 1,700 people were lost in the Mediterranean Sea.

A total of 675 migrants, including children and babies, were rescued off the Spanish coast over the weekend, a government spokesman said. On Saturday, 405 were picked up from what are often unseaworthy people smugglers' vessels, with seven children and babies among the African migrants.

A total of 675 migrants, including children and babies, were rescued off the Spanish coast over the weekend, a government spokesman said. On Saturday, 405 were picked up from what are often unseaworthy people smugglers' vessels, with seven children and babies among the African migrants. The rescuers were unaware of any who were in serious medical condition or lost overboard. Spain has become the biggest port of entry for clandestine migration into Europe after Italy largely closed its borders under pressure from far-right Interior Minister Matteo Salvini. More than 40,000 migrants have reached Spain since the start of the year, most via the maritime route but also by making their way into Spain's two tiny enclaves in Morocco -- Ceuta and Melilla -- according to the International Organization for Migration. That represents 40 per cent of the roughly 100,000 arrivals throughout Europe over the period. Meanwhile, more than 1,700 people were lost in the Mediterranean Sea.

Nearly 700 migrants rescued off Spain over the weekend

The Italian government on Monday adopted a security decree which will make it easier to expel migrants and strip them of Italian citizenship.

The new bill is "a step forward to make Italy safer," Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said on Facebook.

He added that it would help Italy "be stronger in the fight against the mafia and (people) smugglers".

Parliament has 60 days to vote the bill into law.

Salvini said the decree streamlines the rules for processing asylum requests and brings Italy into line with other EU countries.

Humanitarian protection -- a lower level of asylum that is based on Italian rather than international law -- would be awarded based on six strict criteria.

These include whether there was urgent medical need or if the applicant was the victim of a natural disaster, Salvini told journalists.

He said around a quarter of those who have applied for asylum in recent years in Italy have been given humanitarian protection, which is a provisional status.

Those seeking refugee status will have their requests suspended if they are "considered socially dangerous or convicted in the first instance" of crimes, while their appeals are ongoing.

Asylum seekers accused of "dealing drugs or bag-snatching" will have their applications denied, Salvini said.

The Italian government on Monday adopted a security decree which will make it easier to expel migrants and strip them of Italian citizenship. The new bill is "a step forward to make Italy safer," Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said on Facebook.

The Italian government on Monday adopted a security decree which will make it easier to expel migrants and strip them of Italian citizenship. The new bill is "a step forward to make Italy safer," Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said on Facebook. He added that it would help Italy "be stronger in the fight against the mafia and (people) smugglers". Parliament has 60 days to vote the bill into law. Salvini said the decree streamlines the rules for processing asylum requests and brings Italy into line with other EU countries. Humanitarian protection -- a lower level of asylum that is based on Italian rather than international law -- would be awarded based on six strict criteria. These include whether there was urgent medical need or if the applicant was the victim of a natural disaster, Salvini told journalists. He said around a quarter of those who have applied for asylum in recent years in Italy have been given humanitarian protection, which is a provisional status. Those seeking refugee status will have their requests suspended if they are "considered socially dangerous or convicted in the first instance" of crimes, while their appeals are ongoing. Asylum seekers accused of "dealing drugs or bag-snatching" will have their applications denied, Salvini said.

Italy government adopts hardline anti-migrant decree

Italy said&nbsp;on Wednesday&nbsp;its decision to shut its ports to hundred of migrants aboard a charity ship was firm, as a clash between Rome and Paris over migrant policy heated up.

"We will not change (our position) on ships belonging to non-governmental organisations," Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said in an interview with the Corriere della Sera newspaper.

"Ships belonging to foreign organisations and flying foreign flags cannot dictate Italy's immigration policy," said Salvini, who is also head of the anti-immigrant League.

Since Sunday, when both Italy and Malta refused to let them dock, some 629 migrants, including 11 children and seven pregnant women, have been in the central Mediterranean aboard the Aquarius.

Some of the migrants on the overcrowded Aquarius, who are mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, were moved onto to two Italian ships from the navy and coastguard and are headed for the port of Valencia, Spain.

The episode, coming a week after the installation of Italy's new populist government, has heightened tensions within the European Union over migration.

While Spain adopted a diplomatic tone with Italy when it announced it would take the migrants, relations between Rome and Paris have deteriorated in an explosion of accusations and counter-accusations.

French President Emmanuel Macron denounced the decision to block the Aquarius, operated by the Franco-German charity SOS Mediterranne, saying international law obligated Italy to take in the migrants.

"There is a degree of cynicism and irresponsibility in the Italian government's behaviour with regard to this dramatic humanitarian situation," government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux quoted Macron as telling his cabinet.

Gabriel Attal, a spokesman for Macron's party, told Public Senat TV: "The Italian position makes me vomit."

Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, who is due to meet Macron in Paris&nbsp;this Friday, shot back.

"Italy cannot accept hypocritical lessons from countries that have always preferred to turn their backs when it comes to immigration," Conte said in a statement.

The situation escalated&nbsp;on Wednesday&nbsp;morning when Rome's foreign ministry summoned the French ambassador for an explanation of Macron's comments.

"If the French have the humility to say they are sorry, we can put it behind us and be friends like before," Salvini told reporters on the sidelines of a business conference.

Also&nbsp;on Wednesday&nbsp;morning, an Italian coast guard vessel with 937 migrants aboard docked in Catania, Sicily.

Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said the fact that migrants rescued by Italian ships were landing in Italy showed that the government was not "inhumane or xenophobic".

Italy has taken in more than 640,000 mainly African migrants and refugees over the past five years. Other EU states have largely ignored pleas by Rome to take in some of the newcomers and share the cost of their care.

Several EU countries have, however, housed migrants who entered the bloc via other routes, with Germany admitting more than a million people in recent years.

Salvini's League scored its best-ever result in March national elections, partly on pledges to deport hundreds of thousands of migrants and halt the flow of newcomers, and has formed a coalition with the anti-system 5-Star Movement.

'We will not change (our position) on ships belonging to non-governmental organisations,' Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said

Italy said on Wednesday its decision to shut its ports to hundred of migrants aboard a charity ship was firm, as a clash between Rome and Paris over migrant policy heated up. "We will not change (our position) on ships belonging to non-governmental organisations," Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said in an interview with the Corriere della Sera newspaper. "Ships belonging to foreign organisations and flying foreign flags cannot dictate Italy's immigration policy," said Salvini, who is also head of the anti-immigrant League. Since Sunday, when both Italy and Malta refused to let them dock, some 629 migrants, including 11 children and seven pregnant women, have been in the central Mediterranean aboard the Aquarius. Some of the migrants on the overcrowded Aquarius, who are mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, were moved onto to two Italian ships from the navy and coastguard and are headed for the port of Valencia, Spain. The episode, coming a week after the installation of Italy's new populist government, has heightened tensions within the European Union over migration. While Spain adopted a diplomatic tone with Italy when it announced it would take the migrants, relations between Rome and Paris have deteriorated in an explosion of accusations and counter-accusations. French President Emmanuel Macron denounced the decision to block the Aquarius, operated by the Franco-German charity SOS Mediterranne, saying international law obligated Italy to take in the migrants. "There is a degree of cynicism and irresponsibility in the Italian government's behaviour with regard to this dramatic humanitarian situation," government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux quoted Macron as telling his cabinet. Gabriel Attal, a spokesman for Macron's party, told Public Senat TV: "The Italian position makes me vomit." Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, who is due to meet Macron in Paris this Friday, shot back. "Italy cannot accept hypocritical lessons from countries that have always preferred to turn their backs when it comes to immigration," Conte said in a statement. The situation escalated on Wednesday morning when Rome's foreign ministry summoned the French ambassador for an explanation of Macron's comments. "If the French have the humility to say they are sorry, we can put it behind us and be friends like before," Salvini told reporters on the sidelines of a business conference. Also on Wednesday morning, an Italian coast guard vessel with 937 migrants aboard docked in Catania, Sicily. Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli said the fact that migrants rescued by Italian ships were landing in Italy showed that the government was not "inhumane or xenophobic". Italy has taken in more than 640,000 mainly African migrants and refugees over the past five years. Other EU states have largely ignored pleas by Rome to take in some of the newcomers and share the cost of their care. Several EU countries have, however, housed migrants who entered the bloc via other routes, with Germany admitting more than a million people in recent years. Salvini's League scored its best-ever result in March national elections, partly on pledges to deport hundreds of thousands of migrants and halt the flow of newcomers, and has formed a coalition with the anti-system 5-Star Movement.

Italy vows migrant ship cannot dock as Paris-Rome clash escalates

Italy will refuse to let a humanitarian ship carrying more than 600 migrants dock at its ports and has asked the Mediterranean island of Malta to open its doors to the vessel, government officials said on Sunday.

Malta brushed off the request, saying it had nothing to do with the rescue operation, opening the prospect of a diplomatic rift between the two European Union allies.

The move by Italy's new interior minister, Matteo Salvini, who is also head of the far-right League, represents an opening gambit to make good on his electoral promises to halt the flow of migrants into the country.

"Malta takes in nobody. France pushes people back at the border, Spain defends its frontier with weapons," Salvini wrote on Facebook. "From today, Italy will also start to say no to human trafficking, no to the business of illegal immigration."

More than 600,000 migrants have reached Italy by boat from Africa in the past five years. Numbers have dropped dramatically in recent months, but rescues have increased in recent days, presenting Salvini with his first test as minister.

"My aim is to guarantee a peaceful life for these youths in Africa and for our children in Italy," Salvini said, using the Twitter hashtag "We are shutting the ports".

However, Salvini does not have authority over the ports and it was not immediately clear if his line would hold. The mayor of Naples, who has repeatedly clashed with the League leader, said he would welcome in the humanitarian boat.

"Naples is ready, without funds, to save lives," he said.

European charity SOS Mediterranee said on Twitter earlierT on Sunday that its rescue boat Aquarius had taken on board 629 migrants, including 123 unaccompanied minors, 11 other children and seven pregnant women.

The charity said the group of mainly sub-Saharan Africans were picked up in six different rescue operations off the coast of Libya and included hundreds who were plucked from the sea by Italian naval units and then transferred to the Aquarius.

"The boat is now heading north towards a secure port," SOS Mediterranee tweeted on Sunday without specifying its destination, though virtually every such migrant boat over the past five years has ended up in Italy.

Italian coordination

Its route north will take it past Malta, and the Italian government said its port authorities had written to the small island state asking it to let the Aquarius dock there.

"The island cannot continue looking the other way when it comes to respecting international conventions," said the statement, which was signed by Salvini and Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli, who is nominally in charge of the ports.

Malta said the rescue operations took place in international waters off Libya and were coordinated by Italy.

"Malta is neither the competent nor the coordinating authority in this case. Malta will observe prevailing laws," its government said in a brief statement.

SOS Mediterranee spokesperson Mathilde Auvillain said the Aquarius had received orders to head north after a series of sea rescues and was now was awaiting "definitive instructions".

"Our objective is the disembarkation in a port of safety of the 629 people now on board the Aquarius - some we rescued yesterday night in difficult conditions," she said.

Charity boats operating off the Libyan coast have played an increasingly important role in rescuing migrants who often put to sea in flimsy inflatable boats not designed for the open sea.

The United Nations estimates that at least 500 people have died in 2018 trying to cross the central Mediterranean, following some 2,853 fatalities last year.

Salvini has accused the charities of acting as a "taxi service" for the migrants. On Friday, he called on NATO to help Italy defend its southern shores.

Malta brushed off the request, saying it had nothing to do with the rescue operation, opening the prospect of a diplomatic rift between the two European Union allies

Italy will refuse to let a humanitarian ship carrying more than 600 migrants dock at its ports and has asked the Mediterranean island of Malta to open its doors to the vessel, government officials said on Sunday. Malta brushed off the request, saying it had nothing to do with the rescue operation, opening the prospect of a diplomatic rift between the two European Union allies. The move by Italy's new interior minister, Matteo Salvini, who is also head of the far-right League, represents an opening gambit to make good on his electoral promises to halt the flow of migrants into the country. "Malta takes in nobody. France pushes people back at the border, Spain defends its frontier with weapons," Salvini wrote on Facebook. "From today, Italy will also start to say no to human trafficking, no to the business of illegal immigration." More than 600,000 migrants have reached Italy by boat from Africa in the past five years. Numbers have dropped dramatically in recent months, but rescues have increased in recent days, presenting Salvini with his first test as minister. "My aim is to guarantee a peaceful life for these youths in Africa and for our children in Italy," Salvini said, using the Twitter hashtag "We are shutting the ports". However, Salvini does not have authority over the ports and it was not immediately clear if his line would hold. The mayor of Naples, who has repeatedly clashed with the League leader, said he would welcome in the humanitarian boat. "Naples is ready, without funds, to save lives," he said. European charity SOS Mediterranee said on Twitter earlierT on Sunday that its rescue boat Aquarius had taken on board 629 migrants, including 123 unaccompanied minors, 11 other children and seven pregnant women. The charity said the group of mainly sub-Saharan Africans were picked up in six different rescue operations off the coast of Libya and included hundreds who were plucked from the sea by Italian naval units and then transferred to the Aquarius. "The boat is now heading north towards a secure port," SOS Mediterranee tweeted on Sunday without specifying its destination, though virtually every such migrant boat over the past five years has ended up in Italy. Italian coordination Its route north will take it past Malta, and the Italian government said its port authorities had written to the small island state asking it to let the Aquarius dock there. "The island cannot continue looking the other way when it comes to respecting international conventions," said the statement, which was signed by Salvini and Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli, who is nominally in charge of the ports. Malta said the rescue operations took place in international waters off Libya and were coordinated by Italy. "Malta is neither the competent nor the coordinating authority in this case. Malta will observe prevailing laws," its government said in a brief statement. SOS Mediterranee spokesperson Mathilde Auvillain said the Aquarius had received orders to head north after a series of sea rescues and was now was awaiting "definitive instructions". "Our objective is the disembarkation in a port of safety of the 629 people now on board the Aquarius - some we rescued yesterday night in difficult conditions," she said. Charity boats operating off the Libyan coast have played an increasingly important role in rescuing migrants who often put to sea in flimsy inflatable boats not designed for the open sea. The United Nations estimates that at least 500 people have died in 2018 trying to cross the central Mediterranean, following some 2,853 fatalities last year. Salvini has accused the charities of acting as a "taxi service" for the migrants. On Friday, he called on NATO to help Italy defend its southern shores.

Italy shuts ports to migrant boat, asks Malta to open its doors

Italy's new hardline interior minister Matteo Salvini said&nbsp;Sunday&nbsp;that "common sense" was needed to stop the country from being "Europe's refugee camp" as he visited a migrant centre in the south.

The newly minted deputy prime minister in Italy's populist coalition government travelled to Sicily, one of the country's main refugee landing points, to push the anti-immigration platform that propelled him to power.

"Italy and Sicily cannot be Europe's refugee camp," he told a crowd of supporters under the blazing sun in the southern Sicilian town of Pozzallo, a migration hotspot.

"Nobody will take away my certainty that illegal immigration is a business... and seeing people make money on children who go on to die makes me furious," he added.

His comments came as more than 50 migrants drowned in the Mediterranean&nbsp;on Sunday, with 48 bodies found off Tunisia's southern coast and nine Syrians -- including seven children -- killed when their vessel sank off the coast of Turkey.&nbsp;

The port town of Pozzallo is also on the migration front line as one of the main landing points for refugees fleeing war, persecution and famine across North Africa and the Middle East.

A crowd of enthusiastic supporters and a smaller group of protesters had earlier gathered in front of the gates of the town's migrant centre, where Salvini would give his speech, trading insults and nearly coming to blows.

One protester brandished a sign saying "refugees welcome", while a supporter said "we don't want any more pests" and others simply chanted "Matteo, Matteo".

After delivering his speech,&nbsp; Salvini went inside the centre to meet some of the 158 people who had landed in Pozzallo when they were rescued by a humanitarian boat&nbsp;on Friday.

The rescue operation, which was coordinated by the Italian coast guard, happened just hours after Salvini took his oath of office, and said he would ask his ministry's experts "how to reduce the number of arriving migrants and increase the number of expulsions".

"The good times for illegals is over -- get ready to pack your bags," he said&nbsp;on Saturday.

However, while he retained the fighting tone that helped spur his rise to power, he did temper his words when it came to NGOs organising rescues at sea, which he has previously called "smugglers" and accused of complicity with people traffickers.

"I think it's better to spend money in the countries of origin, and now if there are NGOs that want to work for free, that's fine," Salvini said.

The leader of the far-right League party also said the new government would "not take a hard line on immigration but one of common sense".

His fellow deputy prime minister, head of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement Luigi Di Maio, has also called rescue NGOs "taxis on the sea", although his rhetoric on immigration is more measured than that of the League.

Salvini is on the road seeking to rally support for his party's candidates in municipal elections later this month, as part of a broader effort to boost the traditionally northern party's profile in the country's poorer south.

European Union interior ministers will meet&nbsp;on Tuesday&nbsp;to discuss possible reforms of the EU's controversial Dublin rule, whereby would-be refugees must file for asylum in the first bloc member-state they enter however Salvini said he would not be attending, as he will be in Italy's parliament for a confidence vote on the new coalition with Five Star.&nbsp;

Salvini has condemned the Dublin rule as unfairly burdening Mediterranean countries and leading to "an obvious imbalance in management, numbers and costs".

The accord does heavily penalise Italy, which has seen more than 700,000 migrants arrive since 2013.

Previously, the vast majority would continue their journeys to northern Europe, but the introduction of EU-backed processing centres to ensure migrants are identified at their first European entry point and tighter border controls installed by France, Switzerland and Austria are now creating roadblocks along this well-worn route.

A controversial agreement between Italy's former centre-left government and authorities and militias in Libya has triggered a decline in overall arrivals of some 75 per cent since the summer of 2017.&nbsp;

But so far this year Italian authorities have still registered more than 13,500 arrivals.

The newly minted deputy prime minister in Italy's populist coalition government travelled to Sicily, one of the country's main refugee landing points, to push the anti-immigration platform that propelled him to power

Italy's new hardline interior minister Matteo Salvini said Sunday that "common sense" was needed to stop the country from being "Europe's refugee camp" as he visited a migrant centre in the south. The newly minted deputy prime minister in Italy's populist coalition government travelled to Sicily, one of the country's main refugee landing points, to push the anti-immigration platform that propelled him to power. "Italy and Sicily cannot be Europe's refugee camp," he told a crowd of supporters under the blazing sun in the southern Sicilian town of Pozzallo, a migration hotspot. "Nobody will take away my certainty that illegal immigration is a business... and seeing people make money on children who go on to die makes me furious," he added. His comments came as more than 50 migrants drowned in the Mediterranean on Sunday, with 48 bodies found off Tunisia's southern coast and nine Syrians -- including seven children -- killed when their vessel sank off the coast of Turkey. The port town of Pozzallo is also on the migration front line as one of the main landing points for refugees fleeing war, persecution and famine across North Africa and the Middle East. A crowd of enthusiastic supporters and a smaller group of protesters had earlier gathered in front of the gates of the town's migrant centre, where Salvini would give his speech, trading insults and nearly coming to blows. One protester brandished a sign saying "refugees welcome", while a supporter said "we don't want any more pests" and others simply chanted "Matteo, Matteo". After delivering his speech, Salvini went inside the centre to meet some of the 158 people who had landed in Pozzallo when they were rescued by a humanitarian boat on Friday. The rescue operation, which was coordinated by the Italian coast guard, happened just hours after Salvini took his oath of office, and said he would ask his ministry's experts "how to reduce the number of arriving migrants and increase the number of expulsions". "The good times for illegals is over -- get ready to pack your bags," he said on Saturday. However, while he retained the fighting tone that helped spur his rise to power, he did temper his words when it came to NGOs organising rescues at sea, which he has previously called "smugglers" and accused of complicity with people traffickers. "I think it's better to spend money in the countries of origin, and now if there are NGOs that want to work for free, that's fine," Salvini said. The leader of the far-right League party also said the new government would "not take a hard line on immigration but one of common sense". His fellow deputy prime minister, head of the anti-establishment Five Star Movement Luigi Di Maio, has also called rescue NGOs "taxis on the sea", although his rhetoric on immigration is more measured than that of the League. Salvini is on the road seeking to rally support for his party's candidates in municipal elections later this month, as part of a broader effort to boost the traditionally northern party's profile in the country's poorer south. European Union interior ministers will meet on Tuesday to discuss possible reforms of the EU's controversial Dublin rule, whereby would-be refugees must file for asylum in the first bloc member-state they enter however Salvini said he would not be attending, as he will be in Italy's parliament for a confidence vote on the new coalition with Five Star. Salvini has condemned the Dublin rule as unfairly burdening Mediterranean countries and leading to "an obvious imbalance in management, numbers and costs". The accord does heavily penalise Italy, which has seen more than 700,000 migrants arrive since 2013. Previously, the vast majority would continue their journeys to northern Europe, but the introduction of EU-backed processing centres to ensure migrants are identified at their first European entry point and tighter border controls installed by France, Switzerland and Austria are now creating roadblocks along this well-worn route. A controversial agreement between Italy's former centre-left government and authorities and militias in Libya has triggered a decline in overall arrivals of some 75 per cent since the summer of 2017. But so far this year Italian authorities have still registered more than 13,500 arrivals.

Italy cannot be 'Europe's refugee camp': Deputy PM Matteo  Salvini

Italy&nbsp;on Thursday&nbsp;was awaiting a decision from right-wing leader Matteo Salvini on whether to join a last-ditch attempt to form a government and avoid snap elections that would be focused on membership of the eurozone.

Salvini, the head of the League, has said he would "seriously consider" an offer&nbsp;on Wednesday&nbsp;from 5-Star leader Luigi Di Maio to resurrect their bid to govern together.

The first effort by the two largest anti-establishment forces was torpedoed&nbsp;on Sunday&nbsp;when President Sergio Mattarella rejected their candidate for the economy minister - 81-year-old economist Paolo Savona, who has spoken out forcefully against the single currency.

Mattarella then appointed a former International Monetary Fund official, Carlo Cottarelli, to form a stop-gap government of experts to lead the country to snap elections. But Cottarelli has so far failed to form a viable cabinet.

Di Maio, whose 5-Star emerged from the inconclusive&nbsp;March 4&nbsp;elections as the largest single party, urged Salvini to drop his insistence on Savona for the economy portfolio and agree to give him another post in the next government.

"Di Maio - Salvini: the Final Deal," was the headline in Corriere Della Sera newspaper, echoing the national feeling of crisis put into a holding pattern.

Salvini cancelled his scheduled appointments in northern Italy to fly to Rome and was expected to have a private meeting with Di Maio, a political source said.

Opinion polls show Salvini's League would see huge gains in any early elections while the 5-Star would remain steady.

Italian stocks were trading higher as signs emerged of a compromise to avoid snap elections that could be dominated by the issue of euro membership, calming investors.

Borrowing costs meanwhile edged lower. Italy's 2-year government bond yield, which has been the focus of a recent selloff, was down as much as 95 basis points at 1.40 per cent.

The latest development came amid a general calming of financial markets after&nbsp;Tuesday's&nbsp;rout when investor concerns prompted the biggest one-day rise since 1992 in Italian two-year bond yields and dented the euro's exchange rate.

"I have lost my patience. I have had enough, that is the truth," said exasperated Rome resident Teresa Gallo as she was walking to a market for her regular morning shopping.

Two polls released&nbsp;on Wednesday&nbsp;night showed that between 60-72 per cent of Italians want the country to remain part of the euro while 23-24 per cent would choose to drop the common currency.

Lupo Rattazzi, a prominent Italian businessman, ran a full-page advertisement in several national newspapers addressed to Salvini and Di Maio, warning their electorate of the dire consequences of leaving the euro.

Two polls released on Wednesday night showed that between 60-72 per cent of Italians want the country to remain part of the euro while 23-24 per cent would choose to drop the common currency

Italy on Thursday was awaiting a decision from right-wing leader Matteo Salvini on whether to join a last-ditch attempt to form a government and avoid snap elections that would be focused on membership of the eurozone. Salvini, the head of the League, has said he would "seriously consider" an offer on Wednesday from 5-Star leader Luigi Di Maio to resurrect their bid to govern together. The first effort by the two largest anti-establishment forces was torpedoed on Sunday when President Sergio Mattarella rejected their candidate for the economy minister - 81-year-old economist Paolo Savona, who has spoken out forcefully against the single currency. Mattarella then appointed a former International Monetary Fund official, Carlo Cottarelli, to form a stop-gap government of experts to lead the country to snap elections. But Cottarelli has so far failed to form a viable cabinet. Di Maio, whose 5-Star emerged from the inconclusive March 4 elections as the largest single party, urged Salvini to drop his insistence on Savona for the economy portfolio and agree to give him another post in the next government. "Di Maio - Salvini: the Final Deal," was the headline in Corriere Della Sera newspaper, echoing the national feeling of crisis put into a holding pattern. Salvini cancelled his scheduled appointments in northern Italy to fly to Rome and was expected to have a private meeting with Di Maio, a political source said. Opinion polls show Salvini's League would see huge gains in any early elections while the 5-Star would remain steady. Italian stocks were trading higher as signs emerged of a compromise to avoid snap elections that could be dominated by the issue of euro membership, calming investors. Borrowing costs meanwhile edged lower. Italy's 2-year government bond yield, which has been the focus of a recent selloff, was down as much as 95 basis points at 1.40 per cent. The latest development came amid a general calming of financial markets after Tuesday's rout when investor concerns prompted the biggest one-day rise since 1992 in Italian two-year bond yields and dented the euro's exchange rate. "I have lost my patience. I have had enough, that is the truth," said exasperated Rome resident Teresa Gallo as she was walking to a market for her regular morning shopping. Two polls released on Wednesday night showed that between 60-72 per cent of Italians want the country to remain part of the euro while 23-24 per cent would choose to drop the common currency. Lupo Rattazzi, a prominent Italian businessman, ran a full-page advertisement in several national newspapers addressed to Salvini and Di Maio, warning their electorate of the dire consequences of leaving the euro.

Italy awaits decision on last-ditch deal to avoid snap elections

Italy's president is expected to ask a former International Monetary Fund official on Monday to head a stopgap government amidst political and constitutional turmoil, with early elections looking inevitable.

President Sergio Mattarella has called in Carlo Cottarelli after two anti-establishment parties angrily abandoned their plans to form a coalition in the face of a veto from the head of state over their choice of economy minister.

In a televised address, Mattarella said he had rejected the candidate, 81-year-old eurosceptic economist Paolo Savona, because he had threatened to pull Italy from the single currency.

"The uncertainty over our position has alarmed investors and savers both in Italy and abroad," he said, adding: "Membership of the euro is a fundamental choice. If we want to discuss it, then we should do so in a serious fashion."

Financial markets tumbled last week on fears the coalition being discussed would unleash a spending splurge and dangerously ramp up Italy's already huge debt, which is equivalent to more than 1.3 times the nation's domestic output.

After Mattarella's move, the euro gained ground, adding 0.6 percent against the Japanese yen and ticking up against other major trading partners as well.

The far-right League and anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, which had spent days drawing up a coalition pact aimed at ending a stalemate following an inconclusive March vote, responded with fury to Mattarella, accusing him of abusing his office.

5-Star leader Luigi Di Maio called on parliament to impeach the mild-mannered Mattarella, while League chief Matteo Salvini threatened mass protests unless snap elections were called.

"If there's not the OK of Berlin, Paris or Brussels, a government cannot be formed in Italy. It's madness, and I ask the Italian people to stay close to us because I want to bring democracy back to this country," Salvini told reporters.

Short-term solution

While he had approved all their other ministerial picks, Mattarella said he had the right to block nominations that could harm the country. He added that the League and 5-Star had refused to put forward any other name for the role.

Shortly afterwards, the president's office summoned Cottarelli, the IMF's former director of fiscal affairs, for a meeting on Monday. Such a call is usually a prelude to being offered a mandate to form a government.

Cottarelli would be a calming choice for the financial markets, but any technocratic administration would likely only be a short-term solution because the majority of parliamentarians have said they would not support such a government.

If, as expected, he fails to win parliamentary backing, Cottarelli would simply ferry Italy to elections that would most likely be held in September or October. It would be the first time in postwar Italian history that such a re-vote was needed.

Polls have suggested that the League, which won 17 percent of the vote in March, would surge in any early ballot, while support for 5-Star remained strong on around 35 percent.

Mainstream centre-left and centre-right parties were seen losing further ground in the face of voter anger over the sluggish economy, high unemployment and rising poverty.

Demanding an immediate ballot, Salvini told followers on Facebook: "It won't be an election, it will be a referendum between Italy and those on the outside who want us to be a servile, enslaved nation on our knees."

Salvini declined, however, to be drawn on whether he would back calls by 5-Star and a far-right ally, the Brothers of Italy, to chase Mattarella out of office.

"We will ask parliament to charge Mattarella with high treason because he has acted under foreign pressure," Brothers of Italy chief Giorgia Meloni said on La7 television channel.

The 5-Star's Di Maio demanded impeachment under article 90 of the constitution. Under that clause, parliament can seek to remove a president if a simple majority of lawmakers votes in favour. The constitutional court would then be called to decide whether to enforce the decision.

The centre-right Forza Italia party and the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) both denounced calls for impeachment, with former PD leader Matteo Renzi saying his party would take to the streets to defend Italy's institutions if needed.

"Today, we need people to say 'no' to those who want to break us apart, who make excuses rather than assuming their responsibilities, who are playing on the anxieties of others," Renzi, a former prime minister, wrote on Facebook.

President Sergio Mattarella has called in Carlo Cottarelli after two anti-establishment parties angrily abandoned their plans to form a coalition in the face of a veto from the head of state over their choice of economy minister

Italy's president is expected to ask a former International Monetary Fund official on Monday to head a stopgap government amidst political and constitutional turmoil, with early elections looking inevitable. President Sergio Mattarella has called in Carlo Cottarelli after two anti-establishment parties angrily abandoned their plans to form a coalition in the face of a veto from the head of state over their choice of economy minister. In a televised address, Mattarella said he had rejected the candidate, 81-year-old eurosceptic economist Paolo Savona, because he had threatened to pull Italy from the single currency. "The uncertainty over our position has alarmed investors and savers both in Italy and abroad," he said, adding: "Membership of the euro is a fundamental choice. If we want to discuss it, then we should do so in a serious fashion." Financial markets tumbled last week on fears the coalition being discussed would unleash a spending splurge and dangerously ramp up Italy's already huge debt, which is equivalent to more than 1.3 times the nation's domestic output. After Mattarella's move, the euro gained ground, adding 0.6 percent against the Japanese yen and ticking up against other major trading partners as well. The far-right League and anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, which had spent days drawing up a coalition pact aimed at ending a stalemate following an inconclusive March vote, responded with fury to Mattarella, accusing him of abusing his office. 5-Star leader Luigi Di Maio called on parliament to impeach the mild-mannered Mattarella, while League chief Matteo Salvini threatened mass protests unless snap elections were called. "If there's not the OK of Berlin, Paris or Brussels, a government cannot be formed in Italy. It's madness, and I ask the Italian people to stay close to us because I want to bring democracy back to this country," Salvini told reporters. Short-term solution While he had approved all their other ministerial picks, Mattarella said he had the right to block nominations that could harm the country. He added that the League and 5-Star had refused to put forward any other name for the role. Shortly afterwards, the president's office summoned Cottarelli, the IMF's former director of fiscal affairs, for a meeting on Monday. Such a call is usually a prelude to being offered a mandate to form a government. Cottarelli would be a calming choice for the financial markets, but any technocratic administration would likely only be a short-term solution because the majority of parliamentarians have said they would not support such a government. If, as expected, he fails to win parliamentary backing, Cottarelli would simply ferry Italy to elections that would most likely be held in September or October. It would be the first time in postwar Italian history that such a re-vote was needed. Polls have suggested that the League, which won 17 percent of the vote in March, would surge in any early ballot, while support for 5-Star remained strong on around 35 percent. Mainstream centre-left and centre-right parties were seen losing further ground in the face of voter anger over the sluggish economy, high unemployment and rising poverty. Demanding an immediate ballot, Salvini told followers on Facebook: "It won't be an election, it will be a referendum between Italy and those on the outside who want us to be a servile, enslaved nation on our knees." Salvini declined, however, to be drawn on whether he would back calls by 5-Star and a far-right ally, the Brothers of Italy, to chase Mattarella out of office. "We will ask parliament to charge Mattarella with high treason because he has acted under foreign pressure," Brothers of Italy chief Giorgia Meloni said on La7 television channel. The 5-Star's Di Maio demanded impeachment under article 90 of the constitution. Under that clause, parliament can seek to remove a president if a simple majority of lawmakers votes in favour. The constitutional court would then be called to decide whether to enforce the decision. The centre-right Forza Italia party and the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) both denounced calls for impeachment, with former PD leader Matteo Renzi saying his party would take to the streets to defend Italy's institutions if needed. "Today, we need people to say 'no' to those who want to break us apart, who make excuses rather than assuming their responsibilities, who are playing on the anxieties of others," Renzi, a former prime minister, wrote on Facebook.

Italy's president calls in former IMF official amid political turmoil

Italy's president was tasked on Tuesday with deciding whether to approve little-known lawyer Giuseppe Conte as prime minister of a coalition government set up by anti-establishment and far-right groups.

Sergio Mattarella is expected to announce on Wednesday his decision whether to endorse political novice Conte, 54, nominated by the populist Five Star Movement and far-right League.

He hosted the speakers of the lower house and the Senate on Tuesday to discuss Conte's nomination.

The head of state has to agree to the parties' candidate and ministerial team before they can seek approval for the new government in parliament.

Mattarella's endorsement would take the two parties a step closer to setting up a eurosceptic, anti-austerity government in the eurozone's third-biggest economy.

It would seal an end to more than two months of political deadlock followed March's inconclusive general election.

Five Star leader Luigi Di Maio and League chief Matteo Salvini unveiled their policy programme on Friday.

As well as planning to speed up expulsions of illegal immigrants, the programme contains anti-austerity measures including drastic tax cuts, pension reform rollbacks and a monthly basic income.

EU warning&nbsp

European authorities Tuesday warned Di Maio and Salvini to be "responsible" in their budget measures.

Italy's 2.3 trillion euros of debt is 132 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), the highest ratio in Europe apart from Greece and more than double the bloc's 60-percent ceiling.

"We view it as important that the Italian government remains on course in pursuing a responsible budget policy," German business daily Handelsblatt quoted Valdis Dombrovskis, the body's vice-president for the euro, as saying.

Italy has one of the eurozone's lowest growth rates, with 8.3 percent of the population living in absolute poverty, according to national statistics agency Istat.

Istat announced Tuesday a GDP growth forecast of 1.4 percent in 2018, down 0.1 percent on an April forecast.

CV controversy

Conte's CV boasts studies at New York University (NYU), the Sorbonne and Cambridge, but some entries have been called into question.

NYU told Monday's New York Times they had no record of him studying there to "further his juridical studies" as Conte's CV claims. The university said he might have taken part in one or two-day courses for which they don't keep records.

Cambridge University said it does not "disclose personal data without the knowledge and/or consent of the subject of that personal data".

Conte has yet to speak publicly, but Five Star has defended its PM pick to head a cabinet in which Di Maio and Salvini are tipped to hold key posts.

"The international and Italian press are going wild over presumed qualifications that Conte has never claimed to have. This is the umpteenth confirmation that they really are afraid of this government of change," Five Star said in a statement.

Authority

Some observers questioned whether Conte had the necessary authority for the job.

"He's in a very difficult situation because he has to deal with two groups who have formed a difficult compromise," Franco Pavoncello, a political scientist and president of Rome's John Cabot University, told AFP.

"What remains to be seen is whether he's going to be able to control the various political directions in which this coalition was formed."

Some media and commentators said Conte would be at the command of the two coalition groups' leaders.

"I think that he'll have to respond to what they want, do what they decide," Gianfranco Pasquino, political science professor at the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Bologna, told AFP.

"It doesn't seem that he has political experience so he will be forced to carry out the preferences of Di Maio and Salvini."

Italy's president was tasked on Tuesday with deciding whether to approve little-known lawyer Giuseppe Conte as prime minister of a coalition government set up by anti-establishment and far-right groups

Italy's president was tasked on Tuesday with deciding whether to approve little-known lawyer Giuseppe Conte as prime minister of a coalition government set up by anti-establishment and far-right groups. Sergio Mattarella is expected to announce on Wednesday his decision whether to endorse political novice Conte, 54, nominated by the populist Five Star Movement and far-right League. He hosted the speakers of the lower house and the Senate on Tuesday to discuss Conte's nomination. The head of state has to agree to the parties' candidate and ministerial team before they can seek approval for the new government in parliament. Mattarella's endorsement would take the two parties a step closer to setting up a eurosceptic, anti-austerity government in the eurozone's third-biggest economy. It would seal an end to more than two months of political deadlock followed March's inconclusive general election. Five Star leader Luigi Di Maio and League chief Matteo Salvini unveiled their policy programme on Friday. As well as planning to speed up expulsions of illegal immigrants, the programme contains anti-austerity measures including drastic tax cuts, pension reform rollbacks and a monthly basic income. EU warning European authorities Tuesday warned Di Maio and Salvini to be "responsible" in their budget measures. Italy's 2.3 trillion euros of debt is 132 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP), the highest ratio in Europe apart from Greece and more than double the bloc's 60-percent ceiling. "We view it as important that the Italian government remains on course in pursuing a responsible budget policy," German business daily Handelsblatt quoted Valdis Dombrovskis, the body's vice-president for the euro, as saying. Italy has one of the eurozone's lowest growth rates, with 8.3 percent of the population living in absolute poverty, according to national statistics agency Istat. Istat announced Tuesday a GDP growth forecast of 1.4 percent in 2018, down 0.1 percent on an April forecast. CV controversy Conte's CV boasts studies at New York University (NYU), the Sorbonne and Cambridge, but some entries have been called into question. NYU told Monday's New York Times they had no record of him studying there to "further his juridical studies" as Conte's CV claims. The university said he might have taken part in one or two-day courses for which they don't keep records. Cambridge University said it does not "disclose personal data without the knowledge and/or consent of the subject of that personal data". Conte has yet to speak publicly, but Five Star has defended its PM pick to head a cabinet in which Di Maio and Salvini are tipped to hold key posts. "The international and Italian press are going wild over presumed qualifications that Conte has never claimed to have. This is the umpteenth confirmation that they really are afraid of this government of change," Five Star said in a statement. Authority Some observers questioned whether Conte had the necessary authority for the job. "He's in a very difficult situation because he has to deal with two groups who have formed a difficult compromise," Franco Pavoncello, a political scientist and president of Rome's John Cabot University, told AFP. "What remains to be seen is whether he's going to be able to control the various political directions in which this coalition was formed." Some media and commentators said Conte would be at the command of the two coalition groups' leaders. "I think that he'll have to respond to what they want, do what they decide," Gianfranco Pasquino, political science professor at the John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Bologna, told AFP. "It doesn't seem that he has political experience so he will be forced to carry out the preferences of Di Maio and Salvini."

Italy to decide on new PM for eurosceptic government

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