Italy, Egypt move against illegal migration

The Egyptian president and the prime minister of Italy are stepping up efforts to curb illegal migration from Africa to Europe.

Egypt's official MENA news agency says Hosni Mubarak and Silvio Berlusconi signed a string of economic agreements during their meeting Tuesday at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik.

One of the agreements establishes an Italian university in Egypt and another provides for training of Egyptian laborers by Italian experts.

They appear to be aimed at offering an alternative to young Egyptians contemplating a dangerous, illegal journey across the Mediterranean to Italy to flee grinding poverty, high unemployment and rising prices at home.

Italy regularly expels illegal Egyptian migrants who are caught back to Egypt.