Norway urged Australia today to allow hundreds of immigrants crammed on a Norwegian cargo ship to land on an Australian island, saying it was not Oslo's duty to give them asylum.
Ship-owning company Wilh Wilhelmsen said conditions were terrible aboard the Tampa freighter, built to hold 30 to 40 people but now illegally carrying almost 500 off Australia's Christmas Island after rescuing hundreds from a sinking ship.
The Tampa responded to an SOS distress call on Sunday and rescued 438 people - mostly Afghan asylum seekers - from a ferry that was going down near Indonesia.
Australia and Indonesia today both refused entry to the Tampa after five asylum seekers demanded the captain take them to Australia's Christmas Island, south of the Indonesian islands of Java.
"We regard this a very complicated matter and we cannot let the countries in the region shy away from their responsibilities," Norwegian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mr Karsten Klepsvik said.
Mr Klepsvik said it was not up to Norway to grant asylum and that Oslo was in contact with Australian authorities urging them to reconsider their decision to refuse entry.
"We are awaiting an answer from them (Australian authorities) later today," Mr Klepsvik said.
He also urged countries in the region to provide immediate help. "There are sick people, children and pregnant women aboard and that is something that the countries in the region have to recognise," Mr Klepsvik said.
Earlier, Australian Prime Minister Mr John Howard said his country was acting within international law by handing the matter over to the governments of Indonesia and Norway to resolve.
He said Australia would supply humanitarian aid to the ship, such as food, water and medical supplies.