Rahaf Mohammed Alqunun views her mobile phone as she sits barricaded in a hotel room at an international airport on Jan. 7, 2019, in Bangkok, Thailand. Alqunun says she is fleeing abuse by her family and wants asylum in Australia. (Photo: AP)

Thailand's immigration police chief says the young Saudi woman seeking passage to asylum in Australia will be temporarily admitted to Thailand for evaluation by the UN refugee agency. Maj. Gen. Surachate Hakparn told reporters Monday that 18-year-old Ramaf Mohammed Alqunun would be granted entry under the protection of the office of the UN High Commissioner of Refugees. He said the UN agency would take at least five to seven days to evaluate her case.

Surachate's announcement came after Thai authorities allowed a UN team to meet with Alqunun.

Police officials and staff at the Bangkok airport hotel where the woman was staying said she had already left her room there, though her exact destination was not made public.