The Burmese authorities have released three foreign tourists arrested three weeks ago on suspicion of being spies.

The three -- an American, a Canadian and a German -- were detained as they entered the country illegally from northern Thailand.

The tourists, who have returned to Thailand, were questioned for several days in the city of Taunggyi regarding suspicions that they worked for the American Central Intelligence Agency, the CIA, or for the US drugs enforcement agency.

The tourists say they strayed into Burma as they were riding their rented motorcycles along a jungle route on the Thai-Burmese border.