Tensions rise on migrant ship off Italy; 10 jump overboard

Tensionsrose on a rescueshipstrandedoffsouthernItalyon Tuesday, as10of themigrants aboardjumped into the sea and tried to swim ashore, according to the Spanish charity that operates the vessel.

TheshipOpen Arms, at sea for 19 days with almost100migrants onboard, has been waiting justoffthe port of Lampedusa, asking permission to bring the mostly Africanmigrants ashore, despite an Italian ban on private rescueships docking.

Italysays it has borne too much responsibility for handling African migration to Europe.

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It's interior minister says the charity-runships have become "taxis" for people smugglers.

"Nine people have thrown themselves into the water trying desperately to reach the coast of Lampedusa. Our lifeguards and Italian coastguards are trying to rescue them. The situation is out of control," the Open Arms tweeted.

It had earlier tweeted that one othermigranthadjumped in the water and posted a video of themigrantswimming toward the shore, his way blocked by an Italian Coast Guard boat.

"Day 19: a night of panic and a man in the water," the charity tweeted. "The night began with an urgent medical evacuation, and this morning a man hasjumped into the water trying to reach the land before his eyes ... The situation is desperate."

The manoverboard, a Syrian, was rescued by Italian authorities, who are caring for him, an Open Arms spokeswoman said.

Dozens ofmigrants have been taken ashore since theshipentered Italian waters because they were said to be minors or ill.

The remainingmigrants still sleep jammed together on deck and share two toilets.

Open Arms says some are suicidal.

Interior Minister Matteo Salvini suggested on Tuesday that the charity was exaggerating the problems on board. Of eightmigrants taken ashore on Monday night for urgent medical attention, he said, only two had health problems.

"I will never go back (on the ban)," he told Radio 24.

The standoffhas fuelled Salvini's campaign againstmigrantboats from Africa and comes as he is trying to dragItalyinto snap elections.

The ruling coalition, in danger of collapse later on Tuesday, has split over the issue.

Salvini's political rival, Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli, who controls the Coast Guard but not port access, hasoffered to take the migrants on a Coast Guard vessel to Spain, which hasoffered them safe harbour.

But Toninelli has set a condition -- that Madrid de-register the Open Armsshipby removing its Spanish flag. Without a flag, it would be difficult for theshipto continue running rescue missions; its insurance would be invalid and it could be intercepted at any time by a navy or coast guard force.

Separate talks are also underway betweenItalyand Spain to find a diplomatic solution, said a source in Rome familiar with the matter. She did not elaborate.

"They want to take the flag away from us. The price is very high," Open Arms' director and founder, Oscar Camps, said in remarks published by El Mundo newspaper on Tuesday.

Camps has ruled out the option of taking themigrants to Spain on the Open Armsship, saying conditions on board were too miserable for them to endure such a journey.

If a solution is not found, Open Arms has not ruled out the option of defyingItaly's ban and attempting to dock.

Asked if theshipwould try and enter the port without permission, the Open Arms head of mission in Lampedusa, Riccardo Gatti, said on Monday, "Yes, it is an option".

Spain's left-wing governmentoffered on Monday to allow theshipto dock at a Spanish port, and it and five other European Union nations haveoffered to take themigrants.

The details of theoffers from France, Germany, Romania, Portugal, Spain and Luxembourg have yet to be finalised.