The federal government is refusing to release the names of Canadians confirmed killed in the tsunami in Asia, saying it will respect the privacy rights of the victims and their families.

Five Canadians died and 146 remain missing since killer waves hit countries rimming the Indian Ocean, Foreign Affairs said Wednesday. Eight more Canadians are in hospital in Bangkok with non-life-threatening injuries.

Foreign Affairs says privacy rules prohibit officials from releasing the identities of the dead or missing.

James Fox, left, and RCMP Chief Supt. Denis Constant announce the government of Canada's ongoing response to the crisis(CP PHOTO/Fred Chartrand)

At a Montreal news conference Wednesday, Prime Minister Paul Martin said he would not override privacy legislation to release the constantly changing list of missing persons.

"I believe those privacy laws should be adhered to," he said. "When you look at the names on those lists, people have turned up. People have gone through that trauma, of believing their loved ones are [missing], for nothing.

"We're going to be respecting their privacy."

However, the Toronto Star obtained a copy of the lists of missing and dead, and published them in its Wednesday edition. Along with previously reported deaths, the Star list would push the death toll to seven Canadians.

At a briefing on Wednesday, Foreign Affairs spokesperson James Fox said the list published by the Star is "not the list we are working with," but wouldn't comment further on the report.

Fox said Ottawa's list has been sent to Interpol and the RCMP, which has set up a task force for the families of people believed missing in the tsunami, said RCMP Chief Superintendent Denis Constant.

To report a person missing in the tsunami, people can call a toll free number: 1-888-543-4916 or send an e-mail to canadiantsunamivictims@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

Editor says printing list in 'public interest'

In a note to readers published along with the lists, Toronto Star editor-in-chief Giles Gherson said the newspaper was printing the names as a matter of "overwhelming public interest."

"We believe ... the information should flow freely so relatives or friends in Canada can tell the authorities if they know someone on the missing list is, in fact, safe," Gherson wrote.

That has been the result when government lists have been published in Denmark, Norway and Finland.

But like Canada, many other countries are refusing to release lists of missing citizens because of privacy concerns.

Swedish Prime Minister Goeran Persson said Sweden won't publish a list of the missing because their vacant homes could be broken into. Thousands of Swedes still cannot be accounted for.