Sewn children may be taken away

Australia today threatened to remove the children of some asylum seekers after youngsters involved in a hunger strike had their lips sewn together.

Philip Ruddock, Australia’s hard-line Immigration Minister, said the government was considering the move after four children aged 12 to 15 had the stitches removed in hospital.

Almost 200 detainees at the remote Woomera detention camp have been on hunger strike since last Wednesday.

About 70 have sewn their lips together in protest at possible deportations, while some others have swallowed detergents.