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AFP-Three foreign journalists detai



Three foreign journalists detained in Myanmar ahead of Suu Kyi interview

Tue 01 Sep 98 - 12:05 GMT 

YANGON, Sept 1 (AFP) - Three foreign journalists were detained in the
Myanmar capital, Yangon, Tuesday as they prepared to interview opposition
leader Aung San Suu Kyi, foreign diplomats said.

The three -- an Australian, a Canadian and a Japanese -- all believed to be
cameramen, were detained near the Nobel peace laureate's house by
intelligence agents, they added.

They were to be deported to Bangkok on a flight later Tuesday.

"They are just going to be deported," said one foreign diplomat.

"We'll be at the airport to make sure everything goes alright."

The Australian was believed to be a woman while the other two were men. The
Australian and Canadian were understood to be working for two international
media groups on a freelance basis. The employment status of the Japanese
was unclear. All three were travelling on tourist visas, the diplomats
said.

Rising political tensions have focussed attention on Myanmar in recent
weeks and several foreign journalists travelling on tourist visas have been
briefly detained or questioned by security forces.

However junta officials have generally taken a tolerant line and a
spokesman said the journalists would be left alone but could not expect to
be allowed to return to Myanmar as they had been easily identified during
their trips.

Two other foreign journalists -- one French and one Italian -- were
deported last month.