A new wave of Tunisian boat people landed yesterday at Italy's Lampedusa island, authorities said, as Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said he would visit to TUnis to try to halt the arrivals.

A first boatload of 133 arrived at Italy's southernmost island shortly before dawn yesterday, while another 113 landed at around 8:00am they said.

A third boat with around 100 people aboard was rescued a few kilometres off the tiny island after an Italian journalist who was with them raised the alarm that the boat was taking on water.

Another three boats were headed towards the island, the sources said.