12 face subversion rap

HANOI, Vietnam: A court in Ho Chi Minh City has begun the trial of 12 people, including two Americans, on subversion charges as government authorities step up a crackdown on dissent.

The official Vietnam News Agency said the defendants are accused of attempting to overthrow the government by recruiting members for a US-based exile group called the Provisional Central Government of Vietnam and by engaging in anti-state activities.

Vietnam’s government has labelled the little-known group a terrorist organisation. It said most of the plans were thwarted.

The trial is scheduled to last three days.