US says Lao officials back report of three Americans arrested

0 Comments | AFP, September, 2007

HANOI (AFP) — The United States said Wednesday it had received reports from Lao local officials, but not the central government, that three US citizens of ethnic Hmong descent had been arrested in the country.

A Washington-based group, the Center for Public Policy Analysis, earlier said the trio from Minnesota had been arrested in the communist Asian country on August 25 on unknown charges while on a sightseeing and business trip.

"We aware of reports that three American citizens of Hmong-Lao descent are being detained in Vientiane," a US embassy spokesperson told AFP.

"Officials in our embassy in Vientiane are working to confirm these reports, gain consular access to any detained Americans, and provide appropriate consular assistance."

The US...