Authorities in Laos have arrested four U.S. nationals who witnessed the surrender Saturday of about 170 relatives of ethnic Hmong rebels.
The Hmong have been fighting a low-level insurgency against the communist government of Laos since the end Vietnam War.
The two Americans (Ed and Georgie Szendrey) and two Hmong-Americans (Sia Cher Vang and Nhia Vang Yang) are members of the Fact Finding Commission, a U.S.-based organization backing the Hmong rebels.
Lao authorities say the four had entered the country on tourist visas and are now being questioned in Vientiane.
Laos Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Somsavath Lengsavad confirmed the arrests and deportation to VOA Bangkok stringer Songrit PhonNgern.
Listen to our Laos Today report for details.