VALLETTA, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has blamed a recent drama -- involving over 200 African migrants who were stranded at sea for six days -- on the captain of the rescue ship, adding that he was pleased with Malta's handling of the situation.
Captain Claus-Peter Reisch of the MV Lifeline was charged in a Maltese court last week over what the police claim is the ship's irregular registration.
"The court case relating to Lifeline was triggered by the captain who refused to obey orders. We are awaiting an independent decision from the court," Muscat said in a telephone interview on local radio on Sunday.
Muscat praised the way that the Maltese authorities had handled the situation, saying it was an approach which brought results.
He said that it was the first time that the tiny Mediterranean country had accepted migrants even though it was not obliged to do so.
Muscat said that the resolution of the issue was evidence that Malta was capable of discussing problems around a table with its international partners in order to arrive at solutions.
