Australia Says Rights Key To Malaysia Refugee Deal

By Agence France-Presse

Australia Sunday said human rights would be a key element in its deal with Kuala Lumpur to send hundreds of asylum seekers to Malaysia, as the UN welcomed its move to treat minors on a case-by-case basis.

Australia is in advanced discussions with Malaysia on a plan to send 800 asylum seekers to the Southeast Asian nation in exchange for accepting some 4,000 of its registered refugees.

Cabinet minister Jenny Macklin said a human rights reference was included in Australia's original in-principle agreement between Prime Minister Julia Gillard and her Malaysian counterpart and the issue was key to the government.