The Australian government says it is considering a U.N. request to inspect conditions at a remote detention center for asylum seekers.

Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock did not say when the government will make a decision on the issue, but denied that there are human rights abuses at the Woomera detention camp in South Australia.

Monday in Geneva, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson asked Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer for clearance to send an envoy to Woomera. She said there are human rights concerns that need to be clarified.

Hundreds of asylum seekers at Woomera carried out a mass two week hunger strike to protest conditions at the camp and delays in processing their asylum applications. Negotiators were able to end the strike last week.

Australia detains all illegal migrants in guarded camps while their applications for asylum are being processed.

Some information for this report provided by AP and AFP.

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