A stand-off between asylum seekers and guards at a compound inside the Manus Island detention centre has been resolved, according to a Papua New Guinea government spokesman.

The spokesman said chief migration officer Mataio Rabura entered Delta block and negotiated an end to the blockade, allowing dehydrated protesters to get medical treatment on Monday evening (AEST).

• Manus Island unrest ‘irresponsible’: Dutton
• Asylum seekers on hunger strike pledge to donate organs to Australia 

The spokesman said security guards were involved, and that police were in attendance but stayed back.

There were no serious injuries, according to the spokesman.

Asylum seekers in other compounds who did not witness the confrontation reported people being beaten, dragged on the ground and handcuffed.

Discussions are continuing between leaders of the protest and Mr Rabura.

Asylum seekers who barricaded themselves inside a compound at the Manus Island detention centre earlier said police and guards were preparing to enter the compound by force.

Protests at the facility on Monday entered their seventh day, with detainees of Delta compound preventing staff from entering and refusing food and water.

About 700 asylum seekers were protesting about the prospect of refugees being resettled in PNG, with some asking for the United Nations to take custody of them instead.

Some asylum seekers wanted to donate their organs to Australians if they die at the detention centre, one detainee says, adding the move would mean at least part of them would taste “freedom”.

The message comes in the form of a letter written by an asylum seeker at the Australian-run facility in Papua New Guinea and obtained by the ABC.

“All asylum seekers on Manus Island in hunger strike ask you to hand over our medical records to organ donation organisation in case of our fatalities inside the cage,” said the letter, addressed to service providers Transfield and International Health and Medical Service.

“This way at least a part of us may one day feel sweet taste of FREEDOM.”

On Monday afternoon Immigration Minister Peter Dutton condemned the protests describing them as “aggressive and irresponsible”.

In a statement, Mr Dutton said the behaviour of the “transferees” in question was placing other transferees and detention centre staff at risk.

“A number of transferees have regrettably engaged in aggressive behaviour over the weekend,” Mr Dutton said.

“The failure of this group to cease their disturbing actions is irresponsible – rather than protesting peacefully, they have chosen a disruptive path.”

But Opposition Leader Bill Shorten criticised the government for not being transparent enough about the situation on Manus Island.

“Whatever one’s perspective, I think all Australians are unhappy about a culture of secrecy,” Mr Shorten said.

“These people are directly or indirectly in the care of Australia, and the Government just needs to come clean about what is happening.”

– with ABC