Christmas Island riots under control - Immigration Minister

After almost 48 hours of turmoil on the Australian territory of Christmas Island, Australian Federal Police (AFP) have moved in defuse riots, fires and unrest, simultaneously as United Nations delegates slam Australia's treatment of asylum seekers.

Australia's Immigration Minister Peter Dutton confirmed on Tuesday that federal officers had landed on the Island to calm the situation, which was ignited after a man who escaped a detention facility on Saturday was found dead with no explanation.

Dutton said it was necessary to send the AFP to the island as "many of the people on Christmas Island have been committed or convicted of manslaughter, of serious grievous bodily harm charges, sexual assault against children."

"Those people that have undertaken that sort of behavior will face the full force of the law," Dutton told the media on Tuesday.

Dutton said officers were met with little resistance, but nonetheless there's still a core group of criminals who are causing disruption and the AFP and the Serco guards no doubt will deal with that threat in due course.

He said the AFP has not rules out the possibility of using rubber bullets to bring the situation under control, something the Opposition's Immigration spokesperson said "absolutely" deserved an explanation as to why the situation escalated to that point. Enditem