Ho Chi Minh bodyguard jailed

The ruling Communist Party has been cracking down on critics

A Vietnamese democracy advocate and former bodyguard of the late communist leader Ho Chi Minh has been jailed for "abusing democratic freedoms".

Tran Dung Tien, 78, was arrested in January after urging the government to release Pham Que Duong and Tran Khue.

They were arrested in late 2002 after signing a pro-democracy petition.

Tien, a vocal critic of the ruling Communist Party, was jailed for 10 months. He is set to be released soon, having served that time in detention.

The proceedings against Tien took place in a closed court, although his wife and family were reported to have been allowed to observe.

Tien, who was in the army from 1946 to 1960, began writing signed letters criticising the communist government in the 1990s. He called for the release of all political prisoners and further democracy.

The foreign ministry had said on Tuesday that he was being charged with "abusing rights on democratic freedom".

In the past year Vietnam has been cracking down on activists, including those using the internet to spread their views.

Human rights groups say at least five Vietnamese are being punished for expressing dissent in cyberspace.