During talks in Nasiriyah attended by Australian representatives on Tuesday, Shi'ite Muslim cleric Sheikh Sayed Jamaluddin called on Australia to treat Iraqi asylum seekers with more compassion instead of putting them in detention centres.

But a spokesman for Immigration Minister Philip Ruddock said the cleric seemed unaware of the small number of Iraqis actually held in detention.

"The overwhelming majority of Iraqis are actually in the community on temporary protection visas," he said. "There's a very small number of Iraqis in detention."

He said only 39 Iraqis were being detained, while 4,200 were living in the wider community.

"I think it demonstrates a misunderstanding of the situation," the spokesman said, adding Australia would be happy to provide more information.

He said the Iraqis in detention were either failed asylum seekers, or were being held because of health or character concerns.

SPACE.WIRE