Fed: Vietnamese asylum-seeker boat apparently turned away
A second boat loaded with Vietnamese people could be attempting to reach Australia.
The ABC quotes an Indonesian embassy spokeswoman as saying the Indonesian navy hasescorted one boat with 42 Vietnamese people into the South China Sea and away from Australia.
But she says a second boat has been in Indonesia waters for the past week.
Meanwhile, Immigration Minister Philip RUDDOCK says he believes the first boat is carryingsix families, some with relatives already in Australia.
He says reports suggest it's not part of a major people-smuggling exercise.
The boat reached Indonesia's South Kalimintan on Friday, and its passengers were givenfuel, food and water and sent on their way.
AAP RTV dw/sw/smb/wz/rt
KEYWORD: INDON BOAT (CANBERRA)
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