11.   The government has suspended processing refugee applications from Afghan asylum seekers ahead of sending them back home, Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock said Monday.

12.   The mostly Afghan asylum seekers at the center of the crisis are on their way to the tiny Pacific island of Nauru aboard Australian naval ship HMAS Manoora.

13.   The U.N. refugee agency Tuesday expressed concern over a German court ruling against two Afghan asylum seekers who might face persecution if sent back to Afghanistan.

14.   The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees expressed concern Tuesday over a German court ruling against two Afghan asylum seekers who might face persecution if sent back to Afghanistan.

15.   Afghan asylum seekers are mutilating their children to try and win sympathy in their fight to stay in Australia, officials alleged here Wednesday.

16.   Afghan asylum seekers are sewing up the lips of children to win sympathy in their battle to win refuge in Australia, government officials alleged here Wednesday.

17.   Australia will soon begin repatriating Afghan asylum seekers from its detention centres as security stabilises in their homeland, Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock said Monday.

18.   Australia ordered not to detainonday blocked moves by authorities to return a mentally disturbed Afghan asylum seeker to the remote Woomera detention centre.

19.   The predominantly Afghan asylum seekers began the hunger strike in protest against delays by the Australian government in processing their claims for asylum.

20.   Visiting Afghan refugee and repatriation minister Enayatullah Nazari said Friday he had met hundreds of Afghan asylum seekers stranded in Indonesia and urged them to come home.