The Italian coast guard says Schettino defied their entreaties for him to return to his ship as the chaotic evacuation of the more than 4,200 people aboard was in full progress.

In a newly-released audio recording, the Italian coast guard pleads with the captain of the Costa Concordia to return to the capsized ship and help with the rescue operation.

From the Washington post: The audio was first made available on the website of Corriere della Sera, and the Italian coast guard confirmed its authenticity Tuesday to The Associated Press.

The BBC has an extraordinary recording of a conversation between the Italian coast guard and Francesco Schettino, the captain of the Costa Concordia, who has been accused of abandoning ship.

The search of the Costa Concordia cruise ship has been suspended after the capsized vessel slipped, the Italian coast guard says.

At least three people have died, the Italian coast guard said.

The Italian coast guard said the captain had tried to turn the ship toward port in Giglio to make an evacuation easier, but it began to tip over as it reached the port.

But I can walk to Bari's waterfront and watch Albanian and Kosovar families pouring off the daily ferries from Durres - legal immigrants, presumably - or drive south a hundred kilometers at night and see the Italian coast guard searching for the rubber dinghies crammed with refugees that leave Vlore nightly for the perilous Adriatic crossing.