Australia to 'carefully consider' Saudi woman's asylum plea: official

Australia on Tuesday said it would consider an 18-year-old Saudi woman's desperate plea for asylum in a case that has drawn worldwide attention.

"The Australian Government is pleased that Ms Rahaf Mohammed Al-Qunun is having her claim for protection assessed (by the UN)," a Department of Home Affairs official told AFP.

"Any application by Ms Al-Qunun for a humanitarian visa will be carefully considered once the UNHCR process has concluded.