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World

Indonesia detains boat carrying 96 Middle Eastern asylum seekers trying to reach Australia

Associated Press
Published | Updated
  • APTOPIX Indonesia Asylum Seekers
    Image 1 of 3

    Iranian asylum seekers who were caught in Indonesian waters while sailing to Australia, listen to an Indonesian police official on a boat, at Benoa port in Bali, Indonesia, Sunday, May 12, 2013. More than 100 Iranians were on the boat en-route to Australia to seek for asylum when they were caught and detained by Indonesian authorities on Sunday. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati) (The Associated Press)

  • Indonesia Asylum Seekers
    Image 2 of 3

    An Iranian asylum seeker reacts on a boat which was caught in Indonesian waters while sailing to Australia, at Benoa port in Bali, Indonesia, Sunday, May 12, 2013. More than 100 Iranians were on the boat en-route to Australia to seek for asylum when they were caught and detained by Indonesian authorities on Sunday. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati) (The Associated Press)

  • 27a1949e-Indonesia Asylum Seekers
    Image 3 of 3

    Iranian asylum seekers who were caught in Indonesian waters while sailing to Australia, sit on a boat, at Benoa port in Bali, Indonesia, Sunday, May 12, 2013. More than 100 Iranians were on the boat en-route to Australia to seek for asylum when they were caught and detained by Indonesian authorities on Sunday. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati) (The Associated Press)

BALI, Indonesia – Indonesian authorities say they have intercepted a wooden boat carrying 96 Middle Eastern asylum seekers who were trying to reach Australia.

Local maritime police chief Lt. Col. Tubuh Musyareh says the fishing boat was stopped Sunday off Benoa port on Bali island. Two Indonesian crewmembers were detained on people-smuggling charges.

Musyareh says most had no proper travel documents and told police they wanted to go to Australia. Many initially refused to leave the boat, but eventually agreed after an all-day standoff and are being held pending an investigation by immigration authorities.

Indonesia has become a major transit point for people fleeing war-torn countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Sri Lanka.