Australia to permanently take 12,000 Syrian refugees

CANBERRA - Australia confirmed on Wednesday that it will permanently resettle 12,000 refugees from war-torn Syria - one of its largest single intakes since the World War II.

Making the announcement after a coalition party room meeting, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Australia would accept 12,000 refugees from "persecuted minorities" on top of Australia's annual commitment to take in 13,750 refugees from around the world.

Abbott said this was a carefully considered and "generous" number that Australia could handle.

"Australian will resettle an additional 12,000 refugees from the Syria/Iraq conflict," Abbott announced at a media conference on Wednesday.