Ethnic minorities protest in Vietnam

Ethnic minorities protest in Vietnam

VIETNAM: Ethnic minority villagers staged a protest Saturday in Vietnam's troubled Central Highlands province of Daklak, the site of mass demonstrations over religion and land issues three years ago, according to police and government officials.

Authorities blocked the villagers, also known as Montagnards, from entering the provincial capital city of Buon Ma Thuot, a local government official said under condition of anonymity.

Police officers have joined the government officials in trying to contain the crowd, said a local policeman. He declined to estimate the number of protesters, saying only that it was "not a very big crowd" and that they were peaceful.

The government official said the protesters were demanding religious and land rights, and accused a U.S.-based group of instigating the protests. -- AP