'Freedom' chants in Nauru riot

The boats won't stop tomorrow, warns PM Kevin Rudd announcing his Papua New Guinea solution to settle Australian-bound asylum seekers offshore.

VIOLENCE flared on Nauru as hundreds of asylum seekers sought to break out of the detention facility yesterday afternoon.

More than 50 asylum seekers were arrested and are held at the island's police station.

Reports also indicate hundreds have escaped the facility.

The Nauruan government said the situation was under control at 10pm but that several buildings had been destroyed.

Damage surveyed last night included large sections of new sleeping accommodation, which costs tens of millions of dollars to build, destroyed by fire.

All staff at the centre were forced to evacuate during the riot.

Witnesses tweeted reports of violent confrontations between Iranian asylum seekers and "deputised" local residents - and there were claims that 15 guards and a police officer had been injured. There were also reports that detention centre staff had temporarily been taken hostage.

Around around 300 of the 500 detainees are said to have escaped.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill signing the Australia and Papua New Guinea Regional settlement arrangement in Brisbane Photo: Jamie Hanson

A Nauruan MP earlier took to state television to call for big, strong men to head to the processing camp as Nauruan riot police were overwhelmed.

Hundreds of civilians responded to their leaders' call and there have been reports that a bus carrying detention inmates away had been attacked.

Three interpreters and three medical staff were reportedly held for an hour before being released but it was unclear if they had been injured.

There was confusion over the motivation for the riot, with some reports from Nauru suggesting it was linked to the Mr Rudd's hard line announcement. This has not been confirmed, but chants of "freedom" were heard at the centre as the riot ignited.

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Freelance photographer Clint Deidenang said the chants could be heard coming from inside the detention centre from about 6pm.

Mr Deidenang said he heard up to eight explosions before the flood lights outside the detention centre were smashed.

He tweeted: "Massive fire broke out from with the camp. I can see flames and smokes over the tree tops from my position.''

Witness Daisy Lewis reports on twitter that "two districts'' had been evacuated after the explosions.

She said all Nauruan males had been called in to help bring the riot under control.

"Escaped asylum seekers heading for tank farm. Rumours of planned explosion at far. Locals and police trying to block off.''

Australian Immigration and Citizenship Department spokesman Sandi Logan denied the violence had anything to do with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's announcement of a "PNG solution".

She tweeted: "Transferees at #Nauru RPC were agitating on/off this week about their situation. Today's noncompliance part of that.''

Asylum seekers who pay people smugglers to take them by boat to Australia will no longer be allowed to settle here, Mr Rudd said.

His hardline approach means those claiming refugee status will instead be sent to Papua New Guinea for assessment and, if found to be refugees, they will be settled there.

The "PNG solution" does not apply to those on Nauru.

Ian Rintoul from the Refugee Action Coalition said uncertainty and delays of up to five years processing asylum seekers for possible refugee status had led to Friday's riot.

"It's the delays which are central to their protest.''

Mr Rintoul also said Mr Rudd's announcement would only add to their frustration.

Peaceful protests had been held thoughout the week at the detention centre, the spokeswoman said.

On Thursday a local kitchen worker had boiling water poured on her arm by an asylum seeker, leaving her needing medical treatment.

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