DHAKA: Australia has apologised to Indonesia after its navy vessels "inadvertently" entered Indonesian waters while on operations to stop asylum seekers.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said Australia "deeply" regretted the events, adding the foreign minister would offer an "unqualified apology".

This comes amid reports the Australian navy have been pushing boats carrying asylum-seekers back to Indonesia, reports BBC.

Indonesia said it deplored the "violation of its sovereignty".

At a press conference, Mr Morrison said Australia took its "shared commitment with Indonesia to mutually respect the sovereignty of each nation very, very seriously".

The violations, which had occurred several times, had not been sanctioned by the government, he said.

Lieutenant General Angus Campbell, who leads operations to prevent boats carrying asylum seekers arriving in Australia, blamed the violations on "positional errors".

"We have never intended for our assets to operate or to enter the sovereign territory of another nation," he said.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop had tried unsuccessfully to contact her counterpart Marty Natalegawa on Thursday night to apologise, Mr Morrison said.

Australia`s embassy in Jakarta would offer a formal apology on Friday, he said.

BDST: 1523 HRS, JAN 17, 2014
RS