CANBERRA, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government on Wednesday denied reports it had approached the Philippines about taking asylum seekers aboard an Australian customs vessel in Indonesia.

    Immigration Minister Chris Evans said, "There's been no approach by the Australian government to the Philippines government on this matter."

    The 78 Tamils were picked up by the Australian Navy in Indonesian waters at the request of the Indonesian government. They refused to disembark in Indonesia and have now been aboard the Oceanic Viking, anchored off the island of Bintan, for more than three weeks.

    Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has previously said the group will not be taken to the Australian territory of Christmas Island for processing.

    Evans said it remained Australia's intention that the asylum seekers should go ashore at Bintan and be processed in Indonesia.

    "We expect them to disembark there. We're certainly going to assist in resettling anyone found to be a refugee but they'll go through the normal processes and be assessed against the refugee convention," he said.