14th Asylum seekers boat intercepted

Caption:

The 14th Boat since Kevin Rudd to Office.

CANBERRA - AN AUSTRALIAN official says border patrols have intercepted a boat carrying 49 apparent asylum seekers off the country's northern coast.

The small boat, with four crew members, was the 14th such vessel to be detained in Australian waters this year.

Home Affairs Minister Brendan O'Connor says the passengers will be taken to Christmas Island, an Indian Ocean territory where the government detains and processes refugee applicants.

O'Connor said in a statement Tuesday that the passengers will undergo health, security, identity and other checks.

Their nationalities were not immediately known.

Most of the recent asylum seekers have come from Afghanistan, Iran or Sri Lanka. -- AP