The Australian government says a two week hunger strike by asylum seekers at a remote detention center is over.

Philip Ruddock

Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock told reporters the breakthrough came after a team of government negotiators assured protesters that their asylum claims would be processed in a fair and just manner.

More than 240 illegal immigrants at the Woomera detention center in South Australia had been refusing food to protest conditions in the camp and long delays in processing their asylum applications.

Some had sewn their lips together while others had threatened or attempted suicide, by hanging, drinking shampoo or swallowing pain killers.

Officials say the protesters demand to be moved to a less remote detention center has not been met.

A government-appointed panel has recommended closing the Woomera camp, citing what it called the camp's extremely harsh environment.

The Australian government continues to stand by its policy of automatically detaining all illegal immigrants in camps.

Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

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