Reuters AlertNet Lite - US urges Vietnam to resolve case against Americans

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US urges Vietnam to resolve case against Americans

03 Nov 2006 22:28:22 GMT
Source: Reuters

(Deletes quote and substitutes quote in third paragraph to make clear U.S. did not call for immediate release of U.S. citizens but for case to be resolved quickly)

WASHINGTON, Nov 3 (Reuters) - The United States on Friday urged Vietnam to quickly resolve a case involving three Vietnamese-born U.S. citizens accused of plotting against the nation's communist government.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Washington was working closely with Vietnam's government on the matter.

"We are trying to work with the Vietnamese government on all of these various cases to get them resolved in a speedy manner, consistent with Vietnamese law," said McCormack.

He said U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had raised the issue with Vietnam's foreign minister and would address it again.

Among those being held in Vietnam is a resident of Orlando, Florida, Nguyen Thuong Cuc. Her 13-month-long detention has drawn attention in the United States ahead of President George W. Bush's Nov. 17-20 visit to Vietnam.

She goes by the name Thuong Nguyen Foshee in the United States and has close ties with Bush's Republican Party.

U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, a Florida Republican, has linked her release to passage of a bill granting Vietnam permanent normal trade relations status.

The White House has sought to win approval of permanent normal trade relations with Vietnam before Bush visits the country.

Two others involved in the case are U.S. citizens, U.S. officials have said, and a fourth was listed as having a U.S. address. Three others were Vietnamese living in Vietnam.

A U.S. Embassy spokeswoman said on Thursday that consular officials had visited all three U.S. citizens, who are detained in Ho Chi Minh City.

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Last updated:Fri Nov 3 22:29:13 2006