banglanews24.com.bd/AFP

KUPANG: Indonesia has detained 66 asylum-seekers from Afghanistan and Iran who were on their way to Australia when their boat ran aground, police said Wednesday.

The migrants, including women and children, were found Tuesday on a beach off East Nusa Tenggara province in the far east of the archipelago.

"They were found Tuesday around noon on a beach in Usu island. They were trying to reach Australia," Rote Ndao district deputy police chief I Nyoman Widjana said.

"There are four women and five toddlers in the group, 34 of them are Iranians and 32 are Afghans."

Many asylum-seekers pass through Indonesia with the help of people-smugglers before embarking on the dangerous boat journey to northern Australia.

An increase in the number of asylum-seekers arriving by boat from Asian trouble-spots has provoked heated political debate in Australia ahead of upcoming elections.

BDST: 1300 HRS, July 7, 2010