10 Indonesians held in U.S.

The Indonesian government is approaching the U.S. authorities to release 10 or more Indonesian nationals held in New Hampshire for overstaying their visas, foreign minister Hassan Wirayuda said on Saturday.

Hassan said in New York that the Indonesian government wanted to make sure that the Indonesians obtained proper legal protection.

The Indonesian nationals were arrested recently by the local police in a rented house. The Indonesian consulate in New York has sent officers to meet the detained Indonesians.

"We don't know yet what action the American government is planning for these Indonesian citizens." Hassan said. Hassan added that the arrests were unusual. Usually the American authorities directly deported anyone who overstayed.

A local newspaper has attributed the arrest to Islam, the religion of the Indonesians, but Hassan said he believed overstaying was probably the only reason.-- Antara