Australia says racism not behind student attacks

By Rob Taylor

CANBERRA (Reuters) - Australia's government said on Wednesday that racism was not behind a string of violent attacks on Indian students, including the latest slashing of a man in Melbourne by a group of five unidentified youths.

"There's no allegation, no substantial allegation that these are racially motivated. I don't believe so, and neither does the Indian government," Trade and Acting Foreign Minister Simon Crean told local television.

The latest attack has added to fears that violent attacks and robberies of Indian students could seriously damage Australia's third-biggest export earner, the A$15 billion ($12.16 billion) market for overseas students.

Around 93,000 of the 430,000 foreign students in Australia are Indians, up from around 30,000 only a few years ago.

Around 120 students protested against the attacks on a street leading to India's parliament in New Delhi, police said on Wednesday.

They waved placards with slogans such as "Shame shame Australia" and "Stop harassing Indian students" and burnt effigies of Australian politicians.

Since India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh raised concerns last week with his Australian counterpart Kevin Rudd, several senior ministers have been wheeled out by the Australian government to try to avert a foreign student exodus.