Australia asked Cambodia, one of Asia's poorest countries, yesterday to take in asylum seekers detained while trying to reach its coast and Cambodia said it would think about it.

Australia's government came to power partly due to a tough stance on asylum seekers with Prime Minister Tony Abbott promising to "stop the boats". It has detention centres in Papua New Guinea and Nauru for asylum seekers. Yesterday, foreign minister Julie Bishop asked prime minister Hun Sen if Cambodia could house some migrants.