Asylum seekers 'throw children overboard'

A boatload of asylum seekers turned away from Australia by a navy ship had thrown children overboard in protest, Australian Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock said today.

Ruddock said a number of adults had also jumped off the vessel into the ocean after it was intercepted late last night by the HMAS Adelaide, 120 nautical miles (130 miles) from the remote Australian Indian Ocean territory of Christmas Island.