Migrant rescue ship arrives in France as diplomatic row with Italy escalates

France warned Italy of "severe consequences" before a rescue ship docked at the southern port of Toulon on November 11.

The charity ship, carrying more than 200 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean, was denied entry by Rome, Euronews reports.

The Ocean Viking ship had initially sought access to Italy's coast, which is closest to where the migrants were picked up, saying health and sanitary conditions onboard were rapidly worsening.

Italy refused, saying other nations must shoulder more of the burden that comes with accepting thousands of migrants trying to reach Europe from North Africa every year.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, head of Italy's most right-wing government in decades, now appears ready to push the dispute to the top of the European agenda.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin slammed Italy's stance as "incomprehensible", saying the Ocean Viking "is located without any doubt in Italy's search and rescue zone".

He criticised Italian authorities for "making the migrants wait at sea for 15 days".