Rome  - Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said Monday Italy and Spain should work together to control immigration flows across the Mediterranean Seas.

Frattini's appeal came amid a diplomatic spat between Rome and Madrid over criticism by some officials in Spain's Socialist government of Italy's announced crackdown on illegal immigration.

Weekend news reports quoted Madrid's Labour and Immigration Minister Celestino Corbacho saying that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right government "wants to criminalize those who are different."

Corbacho was apparently referring to proclamations made by some Italian government officials of the need to make illegal immigration a criminal offence.

Frattini on Sunday responded to what he said were "imprudent and untimely remarks" by suggesting Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero should bring his ministers "to order."

Corbacho's remarks followed earlier criticism of Italy's stance on immigration by Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega.

On Monday Frattini opted for a more reconciliatory approach suggesting Italy and Spain should join forces on immigration issues as this was in their "mutual interest."

"We should use the instruments of European coordination, through our navies, helicopters and aeroplanes" for joint patrols in the Mediterranean to monitor and intercept attempted illegal crossings by immigrants, Frattini said. (dpa)