Italian officials demanded a comprehensive European Union immigration policy to deal with the tens of thousands of migrants fleeing poverty and strife in Africa and the Middle East.
Pope Francis called Friday a “day of tears,” denouncing the “savage” system that he said drives people to leave their homes for a better life, yet doesn't care when they die in the process.
Dutch lawmaker Tineke Strik, who has reported on migrant deaths on the Mediterranean, urged Italy to investigate claims that some fishing boats or other vessels had ignored calls for help from the doomed boat.
Some survivors told U.N. workers that a fishing boat had passed them but it was not clear if the boat saw the migrants, said Barbara Molinario of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.
