Australia taking steps to ban Boko Haram: Tony Abbott

MELBOURNE: Australia today said that it is taking steps to ban Boko Haram, the militant group responsible for kidnapping nearly 200 schoolgirls in Nigeria.

"The government is taking steps to commence the process of banning Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation," Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott was quoted as saying by the AAP news agency.

"The whole world is transfixed and horrified by the group's hostage-taking of some 200 schoolgirls," he said.

"In taking such a step, Australia would be acting consistently with international partners, the US, UK, Canada and Nigeria," he said.

Opposition Labour party leader Bill Shorten also supported the move and said his party was also extremely concerned about the kidnappings.