'Vietnam Buddhist burns herself to death'

Officials in a village in Southern Vietnam say they have found the charred body of a woman, but deny suggestions that it is that of a Buddhist dissident who reportedly burned herself to death yesterday.

Reports from the Overseas Hoa Hao Buddhist Association say that the 75-year-old head of the women's league of the movement Nguyen Thi Thu set fire to herself in Tan Hoi village yesterday, in protest against the detention of the group's leader and demanding religious freedom.

A village official said police were investigating reports that the body had been dropped from a car and could be a case of murder.

The Hoa Hao sect have long complained of persecution stemming from their previous armed opposition to communism during the Vietnam War.

Hanoi has recently recognised the mainstream Hoa Hao sect, but does not tolerate alleged radicals.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service