The Italian government has declared a

humanitarian

emergency as hundreds of migrants from Tunisia continue to arrive in the south of the country, following the fall of the Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali last month.

There are reports that at least one boat has sunk in the crossing. Duncan Kennedy reports from Rome.

More than 2,000 migrants have arrived off the Italian island of Lampedusa in the past few days. Nearly 400 have crossed in the last 24 hours. The Italian coast guards say they come from Tunisia. Officials say one migrant died and another is missing after their vessel sunk in Tunisian waters. The Italian government has declared a special state of emergency to

cope with

the humanitarian needs of the migrants. The move authorises funds and personnel to deal with the

influx

.

The chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, has

handed in

his resignation to the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Speaking to the BBC, Mr Erekat said Mr Abbas had yet to accept it. Mr Erekat had previously said he’d resign if it emerged that leaked documents that

shed light on

Israeli-Palestinian talks had come from his office.

Iraqi officials say a mass grave containing more than 150 bodies has been uncovered to the northeast of Baghdad. The grave, just south of Baquba in Diyala province, is believed to be 3 to 4 years old, but it’s unclear who’s responsible for the deaths. According to a military official, the bodies are those of al-Qaeda insurgents who’d been killed in clashes with Iraqi and American forces, but a police official says they are the victims of insurgent groups.