Vietnam to Prosecute Three U.S. Citizens in Terrorism Case

HANOI, Nov. 2 -- Seven people, including three Vietnamese-born U.S. citizens, will be prosecuted on charges of plotting violence against Vietnam's communist government, officials said Thursday.

The prosecutor included charges against a U.S. citizen whose 13-month detention has drawn attention in the United States before a Nov. 17-20 visit to Vietnam by President Bush.

Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) has linked the detention of Orlando resident Thong Nguyen "Cuc" Foshee to passage of a bill that would grant Vietnam permanent normal trade relations status. "Senator Martinez is doing everything in his power as a U.S. senator to get Mrs. Foshee back to Florida," said his spokeswoman, Kerry Feehery.

Washington and Hanoi signed a trade deal May 31 that helped usher Vietnam toward its expected accession next week to the World Trade Organization. The White House hopes to win approval of permanent normal trade relations with Vietnam before Bush's visit.

On Thursday, prosecutors in Vietnam "asked the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court to bring to court seven defendants involved in a terrorism case," according to a statement carried by the official Vietnam News Agency.