U.N. questions Australian refugee deal

GENEVA, Switzerland (CNN) -- The office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees raised questions Saturday about a deal for New Zealand and the Pacific Island state of Nauru to accept hundreds of asylum-seekers who have been stranded off the coast of Australia's Christmas Island for nearly a week.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard announced Saturday that both nations had agreed to process the approximately 460 refugees.

Under the agreement, those assessed to be bona fide refugees will then be resettled in several countries, including Australia and New Zealand, said Gary Dawson, Howard's press secretary.

But later Saturday, the UNHCR said it had questions about "some crucial elements" of the plan. The agency said it had conveyed the questions to the players involved and was awaiting clarification.

The asylum-seekers were rescued by the Norwegian ship MV Tampa nearly a week ago when their Indonesian vessel began to sink. The Norwegian ship then headed for Australian waters, but the passengers' fate was thrown into limbo when Australia refused to let the ship dock.

AUDIO Nauru's President Rene Harris speaks with CNN's Rosemary Church about his country's role. 1.51MB / 2:23min WAV sound   VIDEO Exclusive interview with PM John Howard. (Part I) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Exclusive interview with PM John Howard. (Part II) Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) Australian PM under fire over migrants Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   IN-DEPTH Australia's tide of refugees     COUNTRY PROFILE At a glance: Australia Provided by CountryWatch.com    CNN.com Asia More news from our Asia edition

New Zealand has agreed to process 150 of those aboard the Tampa, including family groups that include women and children. Those determined to be genuine refugees would remain there.

Others would be assessed in Nauru and those deemed to have valid claims would have access to Australia "and other countries willing to share in the settlement," Howard said.

Australia has agreed to pay the full cost of Nauru's involvement in this exercise.

The UNHCR statement said it still favors its own solution to the dispute, which it proposed Friday. The three-part plan calls for the asylum seekers' "temporary disembarkation, for humanitarian reasons" onto Christmas Island, which the agency said was "the most logical and humane" solution.

But the UNHCR said it recognizes others have different options on the table, saying, "We urge that any actions taken in resolving this complex and difficult situation be humane and consistent with international refugee protection law."

Most of the asylum seekers are from Afghanistan, which, after more than 20 years at war, is one of the world's poorest countries.

There is widespread evidence of human rights abuses in Afghanistan, said New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark.

In addition, the country's worst drought in 30 years has worsened conditions, driving tens of thousands of people from their homes in search of food, she said.

Many had sought shelter in Pakistan and Iran. But those countries, burdened by refugees, have been unwilling to accept more unless they receive international assistance, she said.

"Someone had to break the impasse; we've broken the impasse," Clark said. "Someone had to agree to take them."