Another fire started at Australian detention centre

Another fire was started at an Australian detention camp for asylum seekers Tuesday, the third in recent days.

The fire was blamed on detainees who were awaiting deportation after their asylum applications had been rejected.

It took firefighters more than four hours to control the fire at Woomera, a remote detention camp in the South Australian desert.

Immigration officials said no one was injured in the fire and inmates were being moved to other camps. Workers at the camp were threatened by mobs carrying metal bars.

The fire comes after similar disturbances by inmates at two other refugee detention centres on Monday.

• FROM DEC. 30, 2002: Australia stands firm on refugee policy after fires at detention centres

Australia's Prime Minister John Howard admitted the detention centres were facing serious unrest, but denied the situation was out of control.