Italy's ports will stay closed to migrant rescue vessels and only genuine refugees will be allowed to enter the country, Italy's hardline interior minister Matteo Salvini said told public Radio 1 on Wednesday.
"Whoever flees from war can be recognised (as a refugee) in the place they are escaping from," said Salvini, who is also Italy's deputy premier.
"And we are working to end war. In Italy, children and disabled people are arriving by plane via humanitarian corridors," he went on.
"I repeat no one will enter Italy without permission," Salvini said.
"Once again - Italy's ports are closed," Salvini stated, claiming that the policy was "in the national interest - to protect 60 million Italians".
Salvini's comments came after premier Giuseppe Conte warned this week that foreign fighters could arrive amid a possible influx of refugees fleeing to Italy by boat from the escalating military conflict in Libya.
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