Afghan migrants on hunger strike

Some of the protesters have sewn up their lips

Seven Afghan asylum-seekers on hunger strike in Indonesia have pledged to continue their protest until they are recognised as refugees.

They are among a group of people from Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan who have been stranded on Lombok island in eastern Indonesia for over two years.

Most have tried to travel to Australia but have been denied refugee status by the United Nations.

Three of the seven Afghans on hunger strike have sewn up their mouths.

They want to be recognised as refugees - which would enable them to emigrate legally to a third country.

Tough stance

The UN refugee agency said it would review the cases of those on the island - but not those on the hunger strike.

This is the last and only way that we can do something Asylum-seeker

The agency said it wanted to "discourage this type of behaviour".

However the men on Saturday said they would continue their protest.

"This is the last and only way that we can do something," one of the seven told the Associated Press news agency.

Most of the 130 asylum-seekers on Lombok have made unsuccessful attempts to travel to Australia.

The Canberra government has a policy of sending asylum-seekers to offshore detention centres while their claims are reviewed.