Asylum of seekers boat sinks from Australia

SYDNEY, Australia - at least 27 asylum seekers were killed and wounded after your was dashed against rocks in heavy seas dozens off the coast of Australia's Christmas Iceland, in a tragedy that is expected to turn the political spotlight on Australia's control and immigration border policy.

Australian Customs and border protection confirmed 41 people out of the water were restored and someone else made it to the shore. The bailout further in "extremely difficult and dangerous conditions," said the Agency. No word on the origins of the victims were officials.

Head of Government: Julia Gillard returned late Wednesday to leave monitor response to the incident. Ms Gillard on faces with a narrow grip makes a political challenge in dealing with the hot button issue of migration to keep during their fragile coalition together.

About 360 km (220 km) South of Java, Christmas Island is a front for Australia's management. The island population consists mainly of asylum-seekers, with approximately 2,000 refugees and detention center employees who live there. The island is surrounded by steep cliffs and a dangerous reef of Australia's migration zone was cut so asylum seekers travel by boat are taken on Christmas Island instead of mainland of Australia.

AFP/Getty Images residents and police try to save a violent seas against the rugged coastline of Australia's Christmas Island asylum boat refugees smash.

Ms of Gillard's minority Labour Government has set up an overseas processing center in East Timor in the hope of deterrence asylum seekers from make the perilous journey to Australia advocates. Last month, the Government announced plans to the point system used to determine whether a migrant, favouring workers needed to the economic boom, driven by Chinese demand for Australia's natural resources further admit to overtake.

Still, the landing of asylum seekers often arouses populist rhetoric and is as a platform of some politicians generally for curbs on migration push have been used. The conservative liberal-national coalition leader Tony Abbott "Turn back the boats" had promised in his campaign, and has repeatedly threw the Government is soft on border controls.

The increasingly influential Green Party is now for an end to mandatory detention of asylum seekers and urge an end of offshore processing of refugees. Ms of Gillard's Government depends, support the Green Center links and a handful of independent, to stay in power.

Shadow Minister for immigration Scott Morrison, he said to the incident wanted to make a political question. "Today is a question of sadness and a day when our worst fears realized." This is what clearly occur, "he told reporters." "These cliffs are especially tricky." "The fact that someone located each rescue effort mount is Hercules."

The Australian Federal Police and customs were the response to Wednesday's incident, coordinate close to flying fish Cove on the northeastern tip of the island in the midst of violent winds with a cyclone, which is expected to form in the coming days occurred.

Western Australia will provide 13 policemen on the island on Wednesday night to help respond, following a request from the AFP. "This is underway and the AFP's priority is the safety of all those involved in the incident," said AFP in a statement.

Witness to terrible scenes describe how a boat flips with asylum-seekers in nearby Australia. Video courtesy of Sky News.

Christmas Island Councillor Kamar Ismail said he saw the wooden ship is smashed against sharp limestone rocks as he drove to work in the morning. "We have tried to help the people on the boat, the best we could, but we could not because the page it was a rugged cliff", he said. "Hit the rocks the boat and smashed into pieces."

He said he and others on the cliff threw life jackets, men, women and children on the boat were screaming for help. "That's all what we could do that."

He described as "very rough," the ocean conditions say shredded after two or three waves.

The Royal flying doctor service, a healthcare organization, emergency rescue Australian Customs reported 33 "walking wounded" on board ships.

Monday's tragedy echoed that 2001 was sunk from the Indonesian fishing boat known as SIEV X or suspected illegal entry vessel X 353 people travelling from Sumatra, Christmas Island killed. Earlier this year, then Prime Minister John Howard had permission controversial to Tampa, a boat with 438 rescued asylum seekers from a distressed vessel in international waters in Australian waters be rejected. The stalemate entering Australian troops resulted in the vessel, was a key factor in the choice, Mr. Howard a third term in Office delivered.

Christmas Island Detention Centre has come under the increasing pressure following protests his close facilities. Put last month, 10 Iraqi seams Iranian and Kurdish asylum seekers in the middle of their lips together in protest, sparking a wave of condemnation of the Government's immigration detention. Then breakout measure of prisoners from a detention center in Darwin, two suicides Villawood prison in Sydney.

Andrew Beswick, campaigns Director of Amnesty International Australia said Wednesday's incident is a painful reminder of the high price refugees sometimes search can pay for protection.

"No one wants to asylum seekers who are risking their lives of companies dangerous boat looking to see travel security," he said. "But in reality is the only way which prevents that asylum seekers attempt, such trips be viable alternatives." "This includes helping increase the capacity and willingness of the countries of the Asia-Pacific, refugees."

-Gavin lower Cynthia Koons in Sydney, Melbourne and Geoff Rogov contributed to this article.

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