An official says Sri Lankan and Afghan asylum seekers have been separated at an Australian island immigration detention centre after a riot left 37 injured.
The Immigration Department official said on the departmental policy condition of anonymity that 10 of the most seriously injured were flown from Christmas Island 2,600 km southwest to the Australian west coast city of Perth.
He said the riot Saturday night involved 150 of the 970 men held in the island's main detention centre.
Immigration Minister Chris Evans said police were investigating the violence and criminal charges could be laid.
He blamed tensions among Sri Lankans after several of them failed to be accepted as refugees and were recently sent home.
AP