Asylum seekers rescued at sea

Indonesian fishermen have rescued 43 Sri Lankans who had been adrift in a boat for nine days after their engine broke down while trying to reach Australia to seek asylum, police said yesterday.

Another group of about 60, also apparently heading for Australia amid a surge in attempts to arrive before a new deportation policy takes effect, were seeking food and drink from on Mentawi island in western Indonesia authorities added.

Australian officials have noted a big spike in asylum seekers trying to make the dangerous sea journey ahead of a policy that goes into effect in the coming weeks.

Australian rescue teams ended their search yesterday for nearly 100 asylum seekers who vanished in choppy seas off Indonesia after their overcrowded boat sank en route to Australia.