21.   So far nobody has died but the protest has intensified domestic and international pressure on the government to soften its mandatory detention policy for illegal immigrants.

22.   The government has been widely criticized by human rights groups, church leaders and refugee advocates for its handling of the crisis and its mandatory detention policy.

23.   The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees also has called for an end to mandatory detention.

24.   His tough stance came despite appeals from Catholic bishops and the Red Cross for the government to look again at the mandatory detention of asylum seekers.

25.   His tough stance came despite appeals by Catholic church bishops and the Red Cross for the government to look again at the mandatory detention of asylum seekers.

26.   Howard, who left for New York Monday, said there was no alternative to mandatory detention and insisted human rights were being upheld.

27.   The illegals, many of whom have had their claims for asylum rejected, are protesting against mandatory detention or about delays in processing their claims for refugee status.

28.   The mandatory detention of asylum seekers has been condemned by its critics as draconian and in breach of international human rights covenants.