BBC News Online: World: Asia-Pacific

Illegal immigrants flee from Australian centre

More than five hundred illegal immigrants have staged a break-out at a detention centre in Australia.

The authorities rushed police reinforcements to the small town of Woomera in the South Australian desert, after the immigrants --mainly from Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq -- poured into the town centre, protesting against their detention.

Residents say the town's only policeman was powerless to stop them.

The Immigration Minister, Phillip Ruddock, said several guards were assaulted at the detention centre and one is in a critical condition.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service