Australia assures Indian students

There have been large rallies against the attacks in Australian cities

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has assured the visiting Indian foreign minister that steps will be taken to ensure the safety of Indian students.

External Affairs Minister SM Krishan said he was "satisfied" with Mr Rudd's assurances.

More than 12 Indian students have been attacked in Melbourne and Sydney in the last few months, reports say.

Delhi recently expressed concern over the "ferocity" of attacks on Indian students in Australia.

The attacks caused outrage in India and prompted Mr Rudd to reassure the Indian government that Australia was not a racist country.

'Satisfied'

"Prime Minister Rudd is fully aware of the sensitivity of the issues concerning students," Mr Krishna said after a 20-minute closed-door meeting with the Australian leader.

"He informed us about the remedial measures already taken by the government. I am satisfied that Australian government at federal and state levels are fully geared to meet the situation," he said.

Indian officials say there are 90,000 Indian students in Australia.

The attacks earlier this year on Indian students attracted prominent media coverage in India.

Subsequently, an Indian minister cancelled a planned trip to Australia and one of the country's leading film stars, Amitabh Bachchan, turned down an honorary degree from Queensland University of Technology, saying he could not accept it under the current circumstances.