A humanitarian rescue ship with 42 rescued migrants onboard remains anchored off Italy's island of Lampedusa as a stand-off with Italy remains unresolved.
Interior minister Matteo Salvini is refusing to allow the migrants in the country, saying the Sea-Watch crew defied a ban to enter Italian waters and should be arrested.
Meanwhile, Sea-Watch said on Twitter Thursday that the ship entered Italian waters out of necessity, the Associated Press reported.
It noted that the Italian coast guard and customs officials had boarded the ship.
"We waited one night. We cannot wait another. Desperation of people in need is nothing to gamble with."
The ship had picked up the migrants off Libya two weeks ago.
