Australia: Escapees Captured

Police hunting illegal immigrants who escaped in a mass breakout from a remote Australian detention center caught 14 more of them, leaving 10 still on the run, a spokesman said Sunday. There were growing fears for the health of the eight men and two boys still at large as temperatures in the desert around Woomera, a former missile-testing base in the outback, dipped below freezing on Saturday night and were expected to do so again Sunday.

He said 12 men were found near Port Augusta, about 200 kilometers (120 miles) south of Woomera, on Friday evening. Another two were found at a service station in Port Augusta on Sunday. Soon after Thursday night's breakout from Woomera camp, police put up roadblocks and used helicopters to hunt for the 35 illegal immigrants who fled after supporters outside tore down a razor wire-topped fence. Police captured five of the escaped men shortly after the break out and six more in the opal mining town of Coober Pedy, about 190 miles north of Woomera on Friday. Immigration officials have said all of those who escaped - 28 Afghans, six Iranians and one Iraqi - had had their visa applications rejected.

Henry Marconi Pravda.Ru Sydney