PARIS, June 12 (Xinhua) -- French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Tuesday expressed France's readiness to help Spain to take in hundreds of migrants who have been stranded aboard the rescue ship Aquarius after both Italy and Malta refused to receive them.
"We are obviously ready to help the Spanish authorities to welcome and analyze the situation of those on this boat who may wish to benefit from refugee status," Philippe told lawmakers.
"France will not abdicate its international obligations in this regard, "he added, pointing out Italy's "non-respect"of international law according to which the closet country to migrants boat should let it dock to guarantee their safety.
The French premier regretted that Italian government "has chosen not to do so and therefore to ignore its responsibilities."
Operated by the charity SOS Mediterranee, the Aquarius carried 629 migrants and refugees on board, including 11 small children, 123 unaccompanied minors, and at least 7 pregnant women.
Since Sunday, the boat wandered in the central Mediterranean after Italy and Malta both refused to let it reach their ports.
On Monday, Spain offered to take in the migrants, most of them sub-Saharan Africans who were picked up off the Libyan coast over the weekend.