Australian PM pledges to cooperate with PNG over rape suspects

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott told reporters on Thursday he will co-operate with Papua New Guinean (PNG) authorities over the return of three Australian men accused of rape.

The former security guards had worked at the Manus Island immigration detention center before they were stood down and sent back to Australia after an incident in mid-July.

PNG Prime Minister Peter O'Neill is angry the Australian men were sent back to Australia before they could be interviewed by police investigating the rape allegations.

O'Neill raised the issue with Abbott on Thursday at the Pacific Island's Forum in Port Moresby.

"Crime is crime," Abbott told reporters after he met with O' Neill.

"Credible allegations must be investigated and prosecutions made if there was strong evidence of law breaking."

Due processes of law must always be followed, Abbott said. "Where people have done the wrong thing, they should be convicted and punished," he said.

O'Neill fully supports his country's tough penalties on rape convictions, which carry the death sentence.

He expressed general frustration with Australian expats evading the PNG justice system with quick evacuations - citing two Australian guards involved in a drink-driving car crash on Manus island a fortnight ago.

The detention center on Manus island is run by private contractor Transfield Services and houses illegal immigrants intercepted on their way to Australia, and others who made it to the mainland and were captured. Endi