Some 24 Iraqis, Iranian stranded in Indonesian islands

About 24 Iraqi and Iranian nationals were found stranded in the Indonesian Tanjung Pinang, Riau islands, recently.

Of the 24 foreigners, 22 were identified as Iraqi, while the rest were Iranians, sources at the Tanjungpinang immigration office said here on Friday.

The foreigners were found on motor vessels that got stranded on the island. They were on their way to Australia where they had hoped to be given political asylum.

Many of them said they felt unsafe in their own countries because of political upheavals. For the time being, all the foreigners had been put under quarantine of the local immigration office for further investigation.