Italian PM pledges to evacuate immigrants from Lampedusa within 60 hours

"In the next 48 to 60 hours on Lampedusa there will be only the residents left," Berlusconi said after meeting with local officials over the immigration emergency that is getting worse by the day.

The premier announced the navy will tighten controls in ports and along coasts to prevent illegal immigrants from landing on the island, and that all immigrants will be repatriated in accordance with the agreement with Tunisian authorities.

He said in order to prevent other sea departures from North Africa the government has purchased local fishing boats.

In the meantime the evacuation operations have officially kicked-off with the arrival of two of the 5 ferries and naval ships sent by the government for the transfer of immigrants in other structures across the peninsula.

Berlusconi's visit to Lampedusa came amid increasing complaints by immigrants of poor hygiene conditions and lack of food, and mass demonstrations by locals who, turned into a minority, cannot tolerate the situation anymore and criticize the government's slow pace in tackling the crisis.

On Wednesday a group of desperate immigrants assaulted the local Red Cross offices while 200 demonstrators staged another sit- in at the port.

As a response to the malaise of locals, Berlusconi announced that special incentives will be granted for the island's economic and touristic revamp, including a fiscal freeze and mortgage freeze for all residents. He said he had asked the European Union (EU) to introduce a no-tax zone around the island.

The premier also vowed to help recover the damaged image of Lampedusa through an urban and naturalistic restyle and the launch of television promotion campaigns aimed at luring tourists, assuring that the island will be once more "a paradise."