Detention centre set on fire as immigrants run amok

Asylum seekers and other detainees at an Australian immigration centre set fire to several buildings, climbed on to roof tops and hurled tiles at officials who were struggling last night to end the chaotic protest.

Up to 100 people being held at Sydney's Villawood Detention Centre were involved in the riot, which began on Wednesday night when two detainees climbed on to a roof, immigration officials said.

The protesters set an oxygen cylinder alight, which led to an explosion, and fire gutted nine buildings - including a medical centre and dining hall. Firefighters brought the blaze under control yesterday, and no-one was injured.

Around 400 people are being held at the Villawood facility. Many of them are asylum seekers, but the facility also houses people who have overstayed their visas.

Some of the people involved in the protest were asylum seekers who had their visa applications rejected, Immigration minister Chris Bowen said. Officials last night refused to release any details of the protesters' nationalities.

"If they think they will be accepted as refugees because of this sort of protest action, they have chosen the wrong government and the wrong minister because that won't be happening," Mr Bowen said during a press conference in Canberra.

Last night, seven detainees remained on the roof of one of the complex's buildings, next to a large sign that read: "We need help."

Immigration department spokesperson Sandi Logan said officials would not negotiate with the protesters until they came down off the roof.

Criminal charges could be filed against the rioters, some of whom threw roof tiles and pieces of furniture at officials trying to get the blaze under control, Ms Logan said.

"This is obviously unacceptable behaviour that will have to be investigated," acting prime minister Wayne Swan said.

Prime minister Julia Gilliard, who is currently on a visit to Japan, said from Tokyo that those rioters who were involved in the rioting could see their applications affected. "Violence is wrong and it won't help your (immigration] claims," she said.

Mohamed Alameddine, who lives across the street from the facility, said he heard a massive bang as the oxygen cylinder exploded, and the screaming and shouting of protesters and the riot squad.

"It was just like black fumes going up the sky. Buildings - one after one - they just went down," Mr Alameddine, 17, said."You could see the riot squad in there - everyone was just going crazy."

Australia has seen a surge of asylum seekers fleeing Sri Lanka, Iraq and Afghanistan, and protests at detention centres have become relatively common.

The influx has led to a heated political debate as opposition politicians blame the flow on a relaxation of immigration policies by the ruling Labour Party.