Australia asks Indian media to `wait for full facts`

Melbourne, Jan 11 (PTI) Australia Monday asked the Indian
media to exercise restraint and "wait for the full facts"
while reporting on alleged racism in this country, but feared
the appeal would fall on "deaf ears".
Acting Foreign Minister Simon Crean said it was too early
to conclude that the recent attacks on Indians were racially
motivated, an AAP report said.
"We are dealing with sensitive issues here, but the fact
is... there is no evidence that they're racially based
(attacks)," he said.
There has been a series of attacks on Indians,
particularly students, in Australia over the last few months
and the latest have resulted in two deaths, straining ties
between the two countries.
Australia, however, has maintained that the latest
attacks were not racist in nature, and cautioned against
overreacting.
"It is far better to... wait for the full facts, we would
urge the Indian newspapers to do that," Crean said.
"But I think that will fall on deaf ears in a number of
cases because we are used to that," he said, referring to the
continuous reports in the Indian media following several
attacks on Indian nationals.
Crean had Sunday expressed satisfaction over the Indian
government's "constructive and responsible advice" to the
media to exercise restraint while reporting attacks on the
community members here. PTI