PAPUA NEW GUINEA authorities evicted dozens of refugees from the closed Manus Island camp yesterday and pressed more than 300 others to leave.

Police Commissioner Gari Baki said that 50 police and immigration officials had entered the camp yesterday morning and "peacefully relocated" 50 of the 378 men to alternate accommodation in the nearby town of Lorengau.

Mr Baki stated that all had "left voluntarily" except for Iranian refugee journalist Behrouz Boochan, who has publicised the conditions there on social media.