Vietnam police arrest pastor of underground church

The pastor of an underground Protestant Church has been arrested in Vietnam.

General secretary of the outlawed Mennonite Church, Nguyen Hong Quang, was detained after around 30 uniformed police surrounded his house in Ho Chi Minh City.

The AFP newsagency quotes sources as saying Pastor Quang was arrested for "organising people to obstruct officials on duty" - relating to scuffles with undercover police outside the church in March this year.

His arrest has been confirmed by two other members of the underground church.

It is unclear where Pastor Quang, and four other church members that had been detained earlier, are being held.

Religious activities are tighly controlled in Vietnam.

While religious freedom is guaranteed in principle by the constitution, churches and temples not approved by the ruling Communist Party are illegal.