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Location : Wasted Space Job/hobbies : Cayman Islands Actuary
| Subject: OZschwitz to send first asylum-seekers to Malaysia Sun Jul 31, 2011 1:33 am | |
| A BOATLOAD of asylum-seekers intercepted in Australian waters on Sunday will be the first sent to Malaysia under a controversial new swap deal, Australian officials said.
The boat was spotted by aircraft near Scott Reef, off Australia's north-west coast, Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor said in a statement.
A spokesman told Reuters it was the first boat intercepted since the deal with Malaysia was signed on July 25.
'The passengers will be taken to Christmas Island for pre-transfer assessments, pending removal to Malaysia,' Mr O'Connor said in the statement.
The boat is thought to be carrying 54 asylum-seekers and two crew members.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/World/Story/STIStory_696827.html |
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