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Boat With Asylum-seekers Sighted off East Australia
A boat with some 40 people was found Thursday off Australia's east coast while a diplomatic standoff continues over another vessel with more than 400 asylum seekers on board.
The unidentified boat was spotted earlier on Thursday off the northern tip of Queensland state and was heading towards a resort town, according to a government source.
The source said a customs vessel had been sent to intercept the boat, though there was no indication of the nationality of those on board or of the ship's home port.
This event came as a diplomatic standoff over the fate of more than 400 asylum seekers continued off Christmas Island on Australia's northwest coast.
Those people, mostly from Afghanistan, have been on board the Norwegian vessel Tampa since it rescued them from their sinking Indonesian ferry on Sunday.
Australia, battling against a rising tide of asylum seekers, has steadfastly refused to allow them to enter.
The governments of Indonesia and Norway have also said they are not responsible for them. Australia's stand has attracted increasing criticism from Norway, U.N. agencies and other independent human rights and aid agencies.
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