Nauru has told the Australian government it wants a solution found for two refugees who have been in limbo on the island for almost five years.
Agents from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation or ASIO and mental health experts interviewed the two Iraqi men in the past few days, after the Nauru Government expressed concern about their welfare.
The move by ASIO has raised the prospect that a negative security assessment on the men given by the agency early last year may be lifted, making it more likely that another country will agree to resettle them.
It comes as negotiations continue between Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone and Coalition MPs on legislation for the processing of future unauthorised boat arrivals on Nauru.
The talks are expected to resume today.
Nauru's acting president and health minister, Kieren Keke, told The Age newspaper that the two governments were working together to try and find a solution that enables these two to leave Nauru as quickly as possible.
