1,000 migrants reach Italy by boat
More than 1,000 migrants from North Africa have arrived in Italy overnight, some in rickety boats that had to be escorted ashore by the coastguard.
It was one of the biggest arrivals since a steady influx of Tunisians started in mid-January, when an uprising ousted the country's long-time president and caused a breakdown in coastal patrols.
The uprising in Libya has also caused concern in Italy that tens of thousands of migrants might be on their way.
News reports said a dozen boats had landed in the tiny Sicilian island of Lampedusa since shortly before midnight on Monday. The migrants are mostly Tunisians.
Italy has sought the help of Europe as it copes with the migrant influx.
Before this arrival, more than 6,000 Tunisians had made it to Lampedusa.