Italy's hardline interior minister Matteo Salvini on Thursday vowed to the country's ports would remain closed to Mediterranean rescue ships and that no more migrants would land - despite possible legal action against him over his controversial policy.
"I am not budging from my position - not even by a centimetre - I continue and will continue to work to safeguard Italy's borders and Italians," Salvini said in a video on Facebook.
He posted the video the same day that a special court in Catania, Sicily, requested permission from the Italian Senate to start legal proceedings against Salvini for leaving 177 rescued migrants stranded at sea for 10 days aboard an Italian coastguard vessel in August after he refused to allow them ashore at Catania's port.
"Kidnapping and abuse of office," Salvini said, reading from court documents.
"I could be jailed for three to 15 years for stopping illegal immigrants entering Italy....Guilty as charged...I have kidnapped and will do so again. But no one is coming ashore."
